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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their liberal arts and general studies graduates.
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.
Leading the list is Oklahoma Wesleyan University, our #1 for liberal arts and general studies graduate salaries in the Southwest Region. Set in the town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Oklahoma Wesleyan University earn a median of about $70,869 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Rio Salado College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Rio Salado College is a public school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Rio Salado College typically earn about $55,835 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Lamar State College Orange, which ranked #3. Lamar State College Orange is a public school located in the town of Orange. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,588.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Mid America Christian University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Mid America Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Mid America Christian University typically earn about $52,630 annually.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a public school located in the rural area of Goodwell. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Oklahoma Panhandle State University earn a median of about $42,753 a year early in their careers.
Northern Oklahoma College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Tonkawa, Northern Oklahoma College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,674.
Frank Phillips College earned the #7 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Borger, Frank Phillips College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Frank Phillips College earn a median of about $47,543 a year early in their careers.
Mesa Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of about $49,609 a year early in their careers.
Gateway Community College Phoenix earned the #9 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Gateway Community College Phoenix typically earn about $46,919 annually.
Paradise Valley Community College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Paradise Valley Community College typically earn about $46,916 annually.
Oklahoma City University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Oklahoma City University make a median of around $58,103 per year.
Austin Community College District earned the #12 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Austin Community College District make a median of around $57,885 per year.
Lamar State College Port Arthur placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,466.
Estrella Mountain Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Estrella Mountain Community College earn a median of about $44,994 a year early in their careers.
Central Texas College earned the #15 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of about $52,603 a year early in their careers.
Arizona Western College earned the #16 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,434.
South Mountain Community College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain 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 $44,016.
Palo Alto College earned the #18 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,337.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #19 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,567.
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #20 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Arizona State University Skysong make a median of around $62,868 per year.
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #21 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,400.
Wayland Baptist University earned the #22 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of about $62,255 a year early in their careers.
Northeastern Oklahoma Aandm College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Miami, Northeastern Oklahoma Aandm College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,116.
North Central Texas College earned the #24 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from North Central Texas College make a median of around $48,226 per year.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Oklahoma City Community College is a public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of about $46,379 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid liberal arts and general studies ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 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.