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 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools.
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If you want to know which schools send liberal arts and general studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in liberal arts and general studies, no school beat Rio Salado College this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of about $55,835 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Mesa Community College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Mesa Community College make a median of around $49,609 per year.
Gateway Community College Phoenix produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Gateway Community College Phoenix earn a median of about $46,919 a year early in their careers.
Paradise Valley Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of about $46,916 a year early in their careers.
Estrella Mountain Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College typically earn about $44,994 annually.
Arizona Western College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Arizona Western College is a public school located in the city of Yuma. 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 earned the #7 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. South Mountain Community College is a public school located in the city of Phoenix. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from South Mountain Community College make a median of around $44,016 per year.
Arizona State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Arizona State University make a median of around $62,843 per year.
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong typically earn about $62,843 annually.
Scottsdale Community College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College typically earn about $50,654 annually.
Phoenix College came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Phoenix College typically earn about $48,695 annually.
Northern Arizona University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Northern Arizona University make a median of around $54,948 per year.
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #13 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of about $44,128 a year early in their careers.
Pima Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of about $44,831 a year early in their careers.
Mohave Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Mohave Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Kingman. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Mohave Community College make a median of around $34,891 per year.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #16 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public school located in the suburb of Glendale. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,180.
Yavapai College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Yavapai College is a public school located in the city of Prescott. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of about $39,486 a year early in their careers.
Central Arizona College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Central Arizona College typically earn about $46,570 annually.
Eastern Arizona College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Eastern Arizona College typically earn about $40,032 annually.
Coconino Community College came in at #20 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Coconino Community College make a median of around $40,015 per year.
Dine College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the rural area of Tsaile, Dine College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Dine College make a median of around $30,261 per year.
Cochise College earned the #22 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Cochise College typically earn about $36,392 annually.
Northland Pioneer College came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Northland Pioneer College is a public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Northland Pioneer College earn a median of about $17,129 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 23 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.