2027 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 150 schools to find the best for liberal arts general studies students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in the The Plains States Region
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Iowa the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 204 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Iowa earn around $40,791 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,269 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of North Dakota one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. University Of North Dakota awarded about 111 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of North Dakota earn around $42,948 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,901 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at St Olaf College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 12 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $40,848 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
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University Of Kansas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #4. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 207 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Kansas earn around $42,527 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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Truman State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. About 68% of students finish within six years. Truman State University awarded about 11 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete this degree.
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Rockhurst University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Rockhurst University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $70,849. Students borrow a median of $24,111 to complete this degree.
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Mount Mercy University earned the #7 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Mount Mercy University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 13 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Mount Mercy University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Mount Mercy University earn around $50,431 in the first couple years of their career. Mount Mercy University graduates carry a median of $27,709 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #8 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 73 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 Minnesota generally make around $14,747. Students borrow a median of $4,500 to complete this degree.
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Johnson County Community College earned the #9 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. About 1,509 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Johnson County Community College earn around $29,855 in the first couple years of their career. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $9,700 in student loans.
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Bismarck State College came in at #10 for liberal arts general studies this year. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. About 307 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Bismarck State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Bismarck State College earn around $33,358 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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St Catherine University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 16 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at St Catherine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $60,427. Typical student debt for the program is $29,883.
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Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #12 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates 68% of students within six years. About 56 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern College Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $44,857 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete this degree.
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Winona State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $46,673 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,062.
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Northwest Missouri State University placed #14 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large public university is located in the town of Maryville. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 58 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,585.
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Des Moines Area Community College placed #15 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 834 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $31,453 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Mary ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Typical student debt for the program is $26,983.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #17 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 111 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $39,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #18 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 327 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $40,892. Students borrow a median of $26,310 to complete this degree.
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Saint Cloud State University earned the #19 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 109 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $51,625 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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Hutchinson Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 487 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Hutchinson Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Hutchinson Community College earn around $26,151 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree.
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Midamerica Nazarene University placed #21 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Olathe. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Midamerica Nazarene University awarded about 10 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Midamerica Nazarene University earn around $63,799 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete this degree.
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Central Community College earned the #22 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 153 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Central Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $26,198. Students borrow a median of $8,313 to complete this degree.
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Pittsburg State University placed #23 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 627 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Pittsburg State University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $36,597 early in their careers. Pittsburg State University graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
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Century College came in at #24 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. There were roughly 388 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Century College earn around $38,376 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,264 to complete this degree.
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Metropolitan Community College Area ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Omaha. About 524 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Metropolitan Community College Area in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $33,011 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,214.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts general studies ranking:
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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 · 150 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.