by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia” ranking, we looked at 53 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful liberal arts general studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Virginia Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Annandale, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 3,606 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northern Virginia Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,289 students in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Virginia - Main Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Germanna Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia. Germanna Community College is a medium-sized school located in Locust Grove, Virginia that handed out 1,440 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Germanna Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tidewater Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this fairly large public school awarded 641 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Tidewater Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lord Fairfax Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. This medium-sized school is located in Middletown, Virginia, and it awarded 782 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lord Fairfax Community College
George Mason University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. GMU is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 362 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Southside Virginia Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Southside Virginia Community College is a small public school situated in Alberta, Virginia. It awarded 504 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Southside Virginia Community College
Central Virginia Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 648 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Central Virginia Community College
John Tyler Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Chester, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 582 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at John Tyler Community College
With a ranking of #10, New River Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. NRCC is a small school located in Dublin, Virginia that handed out 355 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Blue Ridge Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Located in Weyers Cave, Virginia, this small public school awarded 535 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Blue Ridge Community College
James Madison University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. James Madison University is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 263 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full James Madison University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Patrick Henry is a small public school situated in Martinsville, Virginia. It awarded 422 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Patrick Henry
Piedmont Virginia Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. PVCC is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 587 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Southwest Virginia Community College is a public institution located in Richlands, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 215 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Rappahannock Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Rappahannock Community College is a small public school situated in Glenns, Virginia. It awarded 438 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Rappahannock Community College
Wytheville Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in Wytheville, Virginia, and it awarded 224 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wytheville Community College
Mountain Empire Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. MECC is a small school located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia that handed out 280 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Virginia Highlands Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. VHCC is a small public school situated in Abingdon, Virginia. It awarded 250 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #20, University of Mary Washington did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. University of Mary Washington is a small public school situated in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It awarded 118 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Longwood University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Farmville, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 108 students 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
Virginia Western Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia list. Located in Roanoke, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 119 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Full Virginia Western Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Danville Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Danville Community College is located in Danville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 236 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Danville Community College
Reynolds Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Reynolds Community College is a medium-sized school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 92 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Reynolds Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Liberty University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Liberty University is a large school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 69 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
