2027 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois
Liberal Arts General Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 62 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts General Studies
Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 60 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $59,139 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $19,312 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 172 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Chicago earn around $26,094 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Harper College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. There were roughly 1,724 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Harper College earn a median of $27,619 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
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A rank of #4 makes College Of Dupage one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. There were roughly 787 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from College Of Dupage earn around $28,678 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
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Lewis University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Lewis University earn around $55,718 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete this degree.
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College Of Lake County placed #6 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. There were roughly 1,717 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $33,413 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,687 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 12 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $54,302 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete this degree.
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Aurora University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Aurora University earn around $44,614 in the first couple years of their career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Joliet Junior College placed #9 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Joliet Junior College awarded about 677 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $27,296 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #10 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 32 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,761 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University earned the #11 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 122 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $31,745. Students borrow a median of $23,621 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Illinois University landed the #12 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 92 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $40,273 early in their careers. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Waubonsee Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. Waubonsee Community College awarded about 528 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $27,597. Students borrow a median of $7,250 to complete this degree.
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Rock Valley College came in at #14 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. About 545 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Rock Valley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $27,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,035.
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Elgin Community College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Elgin Community College awarded about 1,275 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Elgin Community College earn around $25,377 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,380.
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Northeastern Illinois University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. About 101 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $42,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
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Depaul University earned the #17 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $73,200 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $42,350.
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Lincoln Land Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Springfield. Lincoln Land Community College awarded about 390 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $34,164 in the first couple years of their career. Lincoln Land Community College graduates carry a median of $11,022 in student loans.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College awarded about 849 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $31,322. Students borrow a median of $9,348 to complete this degree.
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Oakton Community College came in at #20 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 987 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Oakton Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $24,918. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Northern Illinois University placed #21 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 89 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $29,426 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,839.
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Mchenry County College placed #22 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Mchenry County College awarded about 974 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Mchenry County College earn around $19,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,581.
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Illinois Central College placed #23 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. There were roughly 1,166 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $29,845 early in their careers. Illinois Central College graduates carry a median of $9,656 in student loans.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earned the #24 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College awarded about 1,059 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $29,168. Typical student debt for the program is $12,925.
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Morton College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Morton College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cicero. About 180 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Morton College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Morton College earn around $31,829 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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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:
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 62 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
