by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts And General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a liberal arts and general studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find where liberal arts and general studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Belmont University the top school for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings in Tennessee. Belmont University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Belmont University make a median of around $73,156 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Tennessee State University one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,054.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Nashville State Community College, which ranked #3. Nashville State Community College is a public school located in the city of Nashville. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Nashville State Community College typically earn about $44,360 annually.
Austin Peay State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Austin Peay State University make a median of around $43,432 per year.
Lee University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Lee University earn a median of about $42,674 a year early in their careers.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #6 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University typically earn about $51,748 annually.
Tennessee Technological University landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Tennessee Technological University is a public school located in the town of Cookeville. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Tennessee Technological University make a median of around $47,032 per year.
Union University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Union University typically earn about $45,443 annually.
Volunteer State Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Volunteer State Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of about $43,630 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #10 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,378.
Motlow State Community College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Motlow State Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Tullahoma. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Motlow State Community College earn a median of about $41,823 a year early in their careers.
Southwest Tennessee Community College came in at #12 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,553.
University Of Memphis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of about $49,851 a year early in their careers.
Pellissippi State Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Pellissippi State Community College make a median of around $40,135 per year.
Columbia State Community College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Columbia State Community College make a median of around $40,318 per year.
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College typically earn about $38,262 annually.
Jackson State Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Jackson State Community College is a public school located in the city of Jackson. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Jackson State Community College typically earn about $35,757 annually.
Dyersburg State Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Dyersburg State Community College make a median of around $36,222 per year.
Roane State Community College came in at #19 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Roane State Community College make a median of around $38,359 per year.
Northeast State Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Northeast State Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Blountville. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Northeast State Community College earn a median of about $37,744 a year early in their careers.
East Tennessee State University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $41,482 a year early in their careers.
Walters State Community College came in at #22 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Walters State Community College is a public school located in the city of Morristown. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Walters State Community College make a median of around $36,545 per year.
Cleveland State Community College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,626.
Cumberland University landed the #24 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,878.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their liberal arts and general studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 24 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.