2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region
24
Ranked Colleges
449
Degrees Awarded
$47,827
Avg Salary
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 79,412 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,155 and $16,203 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 449 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,204 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their liberal arts general studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region”.
Top 24 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St. John’s College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region. St. John’s is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full St. John’s College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Dallas. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Irving, Texas, and it awarded 31 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UD
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Oklahoma is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 190 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Oklahoma
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Prescott College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Prescott, Arizona. It awarded 5 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Prescott College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of St. Thomas. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 13 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of St. Thomas
Texas Christian University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 38 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Texas Christian University
Dallas Baptist University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. DBU is a small school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 9 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Dallas Baptist University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Southern Methodist University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 32 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SMU Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Saint Edward’s University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. St. Edward’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full St. Edward’s University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
University of Houston - Clear Lake did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #10. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 13 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Houston - Clear Lake
Houston Baptist University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Houston Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at HBU
Wayland Baptist University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Wayland Baptist University is a small school located in Plainview, Texas that handed out 5 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wayland Baptist University
Rice University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. Rice is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Rice University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Texas A & M University - Central Texas did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #14. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is located in Killeen, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Texas A & M University - Central Texas Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Arizona State University - Skysong
Sul Ross State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. Sul Ross is a small public school situated in Alpine, Texas. It awarded 1 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Sul Ross State University
Abilene Christian University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Abilene, Texas, and it awarded 2 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Abilene Christian University
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 20 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UT Austin
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Arizona State University - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Arizona State University - Tempe Liberal Arts General Studies Report
The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. UT Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full The University of Texas at Dallas Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Oklahoma City University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Oklahoma City University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oklahoma City University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NMSU Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 148 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico State University - Main Campus
University of Central Oklahoma landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. UCO is located in Edmond, Oklahoma and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 224 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UCO
With a ranking of #21, Southern Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Bethany, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Southern Nazarene University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.