Liberal Arts General Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1551 schools to find the best for liberal arts general studies students.
Choosing a Great Liberal Arts General Studies School
Where you study liberal arts general studies matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Liberal Arts General Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 530 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $69,126 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 415 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $69,994 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $19,052 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Cornell University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 13 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $46,072 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at Yale University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Yale University awarded about 24 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $61,133. Yale University graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 69 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $66,719 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #6 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 102 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $59,877 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #7 for liberal arts general studies this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $37,709. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #8 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 96 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $35,056. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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James Madison University earned the #9 position for liberal arts general studies this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 173 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from James Madison University earn around $49,408 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 60 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $59,139 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $19,312 in student loans.
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Stony Brook University earned the #11 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $74,387 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
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Southern Methodist University placed #12 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 61 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $57,967 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
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Boston College earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 26 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Harvard University earn around $54,555 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $20,126 in student loans.
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George Mason University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 384 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $41,398. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University earned the #16 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 275 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $23,190 in their early career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,496 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pepperdine University awarded about 15 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Pepperdine University earn around $57,582 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
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University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #18 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 27 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373.
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University Of Florida ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 108 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University landed the #20 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
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University Of Arizona came in at #21 for liberal arts general studies this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 90 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861.
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New York University came in at #22 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 727 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $39,652 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,787.
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University Of Richmond landed the #23 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 204 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $40,791 in their early career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,269 in student loans.
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Wesleyan University came in at #25 for liberal arts general studies this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts general studies this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1551 schools evaluated.
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).
