2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Virginia
23
Ranked Colleges
2,481
Degrees Awarded
$35,130
Avg Salary
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. 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 Virginia, there were 14,893 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,025 and $13,423 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,481 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,553 and $27,844 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular liberal arts general studies programs in the United States.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s
The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.
Top 23 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Virginia
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,289 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Virginia - Main Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend George Mason University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s. George Mason University is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 357 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at GMU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend James Madison University. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s. James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 263 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at JMU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Mary Washington. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 118 bachelors’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%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Mary Washington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Longwood University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s. Longwood is a small school located in Farmville, Virginia that handed out 108 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Longwood University
With a ranking of #6, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Liberty University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Hampton University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in Hampton, Virginia, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Hampton
With a ranking of #8, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. Wise, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
Full The University of Virginia’s College at Wise Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #9, Mary Baldwin University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Staunton, Virginia, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Mary Baldwin University
Eastern Mennonite University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. This small school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 Eastern Mennonite University
Virginia State University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. Petersburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Virginia State University
Bridgewater College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Bridgewater, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Bridgewater College
With a ranking of #13, Southern Virginia University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. SVU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buena Vista, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Virginia University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Richmond did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. URichmond is a private not-for-profit institution located in University of Richmond, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Richmond
Marymount University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Marymount is a small school located in Arlington, Virginia that handed out 10 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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 more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Marymount University
Patrick Henry College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. Patrick Henry College is a small school located in Purcellville, Virginia that handed out 8 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Patrick Henry College
Virginia Wesleyan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at VWU
With a ranking of #18, Shenandoah University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. Shenandoah University is a small school located in Winchester, Virginia that handed out 7 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Shenandoah
With a ranking of #19, Emory and Henry College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Emory, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Emory and Henry College
Ferrum College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Ferrum, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
Full Ferrum College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Randolph College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Randolph College is a small school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 3 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Randolph Liberal Arts General Studies Report
University of Management and Technology came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Arlington, Virginia, this small private for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 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 Management and Technology
Sweet Briar College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia for a Bachelor’s ranking. Sweet Briar College is a small school located in Sweet Briar, Virginia that handed out 0 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Sweet Briar College
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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.
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