2027 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 171 schools to find the best for liberal arts general studies students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts general studies education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts General Studies
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas At Austin this year for liberal arts general studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. 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. Students borrow a median of $19,052 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
A rank of #2 makes Southern Methodist University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 61 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $57,967 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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University Of Arizona came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Arizona awarded about 90 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $50,834 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Texas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #4. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 374 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $36,588 early in their careers. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $22,254 in student loans.
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Northern Arizona University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #5. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 243 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $43,752 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,600 to complete this degree.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #6 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus awarded about 240 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $55,222. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Texas ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of St Thomas Texas awarded about 38 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $50,420. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Texas State University San Marcos earned the #8 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 216 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $38,829 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,599 to complete this degree.
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Abilene Christian University placed #9 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 27 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Abilene Christian University earn around $56,463 in the first couple years of their career. Abilene Christian University graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans.
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Collin County Community College District earned the #10 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 2,418 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Collin County Community College District in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $32,114 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Collin County Community College District
Texas A And M University San Antonio came in at #11 for liberal arts general studies this year. Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of San Antonio. Texas A And M University San Antonio graduates 40% of students within six years. Texas A And M University San Antonio awarded about 51 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $45,681 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,771 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Texas A And M University San Antonio
University Of Houston earned the #12 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $35,565 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from University Of Houston
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #13 for liberal arts general studies this year. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Clear Lake in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,100.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Oklahoma State University Main Campus awarded about 293 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $37,938 early in their careers. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Oklahoma State University Main Campus
El Centro College placed #15 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. There were roughly 5,908 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at El Centro College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $33,060 early in their careers. El Centro College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University landed the #16 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 102 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $42,008. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Texas Christian University
Austin Community College District landed the #17 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Austin Community College District awarded about 2,074 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $38,436 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Austin Community College District
Texas Tech University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 265 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $40,600 early in their careers. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $28,713 in student loans.
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Arizona State University 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 Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 98 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $44,173 in their early career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Arizona State University
Alvin Community College earned the #20 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. There were roughly 407 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Alvin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $35,306 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,081 to complete this degree.
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West Texas A And M University earned the #21 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 182 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at West Texas A And M University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $40,793 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Tarrant County College District came in at #22 for liberal arts general studies this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Tarrant County College District awarded about 4,598 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $30,179 early in their careers. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $10,944 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Tarrant County College District
Lee College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. There were roughly 489 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Lee College earn around $31,916 in the first couple years of their career. Lee College graduates carry a median of $8,476 in student loans.
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University Of Dallas ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irving. University Of Dallas graduates 73% of students within six years. University Of Dallas awarded about 40 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Dallas earn a median of $58,396 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,411 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #25 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 281 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $40,185 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from The University Of Texas At Arlington
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts general studies this year:
Honorable Mentions
A few more liberal arts general studies schools worth a look:
Narrow Liberal Arts General Studies Schools by State
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 171 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.
