by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts And General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. 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 27 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.
For graduate earnings in liberal arts and general studies, no school beat Winona State University this year. Winona State University is a public school located in the town of Winona. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Winona State University typically earn about $53,974 annually.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located 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.
Strong graduate earnings at Metropolitan State University earned it the #3 place for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Metropolitan State University make a median of around $70,018 per year.
Inver Hills Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Inver Hills Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College typically earn about $49,562 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Century College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Century College earn a median of about $50,048 a year early in their careers.
St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #6 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College typically earn about $48,215 annually.
Bemidji State University came in at #7 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji 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 $41,922.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #8 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. North Hennepin Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of about $44,336 a year early in their careers.
Northland Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. 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.
Normandale Community College came in at #10 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Normandale Community College is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Normandale Community College make a median of around $46,456 per year.
Riverland Community College came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Riverland Community College typically earn about $38,856 annually.
Lake Superior College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Lake Superior College is a public school located in the city of Duluth. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Lake Superior College typically earn about $46,075 annually.
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #13 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of about $45,191 a year early in their careers.
Anoka Ramsey Community College came in at #14 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Anoka Ramsey Community College typically earn about $47,139 annually.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College typically earn about $45,601 annually.
South Central College came in at #16 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. South Central College is a public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of South Central College earn a median of about $43,664 a year early in their careers.
Ridgewater College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,843.
Red Lake Nation College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the rural area of Red Lake, Red Lake Nation College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Red Lake Nation College make a median of around $35,712 per year.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school located in the city of Mankato. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato typically earn about $46,318 annually.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the town of Cloquet, Fond Du Lac Tribal And 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 $39,982.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,364.
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #22 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd typically earn about $45,665 annually.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College typically earn about $37,950 annually.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned the #24 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of about $40,200 a year early in their careers.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College make a median of around $42,952 per year.
These schools also send liberal arts and general studies graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 27 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.