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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their liberal arts and general studies graduates.
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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.
Winona State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Winona State University earn a median of about $53,974 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Saint Cloud State University earned it the #2 place for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud 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 $49,563.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Metropolitan State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan 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 $70,018.
Western Nebraska Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska 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 $46,251.
Hesston College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Hesston, Hesston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,091.
Pratt Community College came in at #6 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Pratt Community College is a public school located in the town of Pratt. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Pratt Community College earn a median of about $45,470 a year early in their careers.
Inver Hills Community College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College typically earn about $49,562 annually.
Columbia College Missouri ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,971.
Century College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Century College is a public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Century College typically earn about $50,048 annually.
Turtle Mountain Community College came in at #10 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Turtle Mountain Community College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Belcourt. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Turtle Mountain Community College make a median of around $42,553 per year.
St Cloud Technical And Community College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from St Cloud Technical And Community College make a median of around $48,215 per year.
Bemidji State University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Bemidji State University is a public school located in the town of Bemidji. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,922.
Donnelly College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Kansas City, Donnelly College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Donnelly College typically earn about $41,176 annually.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin 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 $44,336.
Bismarck State College earned the #15 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Bismarck State College typically earn about $50,084 annually.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School typically earn about $39,958 annually.
Northland Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Northland Community And Technical College make a median of around $46,994 per year.
Washburn University earned the #18 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Washburn University is a public school located in the city of Topeka. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Washburn University earn a median of about $39,468 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Dakota came in at #19 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,428.
Normandale Community College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Normandale Community College typically earn about $46,456 annually.
Riverland Community College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of about $38,856 a year early in their careers.
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #22 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of about $48,829 a year early in their careers.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a public school located in the rural area of Calmar. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar typically earn about $38,830 annually.
University Of Kansas earned the #24 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Kansas make a median of around $57,045 per year.
Lake Superior College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Lake Superior College is a public school located in the city of Duluth. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Lake Superior College make a median of around $46,075 per year.
These schools also send liberal arts and general studies graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 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.