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.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send liberal arts and general studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
American Public University System tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools in West Virginia. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of American Public University System earn a median of about $64,517 a year early in their careers.
Mountwest Community And Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington, Mountwest Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Mountwest Community And Technical College typically earn about $31,450 annually.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College typically earn about $40,973 annually.
Pierpont Community And Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Fairmont, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Pierpont Community And Technical College make a median of around $35,489 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the town of Logan, Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College earn a median of about $33,789 a year early in their careers.
Shepherd University landed the #6 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Shepherd University is a public school located in the rural area of Shepherdstown. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Shepherd University make a median of around $54,880 per year.
West Virginia State University earned the #7 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from West Virginia State University make a median of around $43,268 per year.
West Virginia University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of about $50,214 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the city of Beckley. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from West Virginia University Institute Of Technology make a median of around $50,214 per year.
West Liberty University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of West Liberty, West Liberty University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from West Liberty University typically earn about $42,711 annually.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of about $42,577 a year early in their careers.
New River Community And Technical College earned the #12 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Beaver, New River Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,371.
Fairmont State University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Fairmont State University earn a median of about $44,626 a year early in their careers.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of South Charleston. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Bridgevalley Community And Technical College make a median of around $40,452 per year.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University came in at #15 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a public school located in the town of Keyser. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University typically earn about $38,685 annually.
Marshall University came in at #16 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Marshall University is a public school located in the city of Huntington. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Marshall University earn a median of about $37,919 a year early in their careers.
Concord University came in at #17 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Athens, Concord University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Concord University make a median of around $37,562 per year.
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College came in at #18 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Moorefield. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College typically earn about $28,134 annually.
West Virginia Northern Community College earned the #19 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. West Virginia Northern Community College is a public school located in the city of Wheeling. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from West Virginia Northern Community College typically earn about $33,604 annually.
Glenville State College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Glenville State College typically earn about $27,640 annually.
Bluefield State College earned the #21 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Bluefield State College typically earn about $25,677 annually.
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 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.