2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Pennsylvania
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Pennsylvania
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 / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. About 153 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $68,293 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Wilkes University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wilkes University awarded about 46 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Wilkes University earn a median of $64,004 early in their careers. Wilkes University graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #3. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 50 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,515.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at University Of Scranton, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. University Of Scranton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 28 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Scranton in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. About 70% of students finish within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 109 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year.
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Drexel University earned the #6 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $62,470 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,154.
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Villanova University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Villanova University earn around $52,183 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Alvernia University landed the #8 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Reading, Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Alvernia University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Alvernia University earn a median of $53,960 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,900.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #9 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 48 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $56,926 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $28,467 in student loans.
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Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn around $39,028 in the first couple years of their career. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,867 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #11 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,958 to complete this degree.
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Saint Vincent College earned the #12 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Latrobe. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Saint Vincent College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $54,916 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,986.
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Carlow University earned the #13 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carlow University graduates 60% of students within six years. Carlow University awarded about 14 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $66,938. Carlow University graduates carry a median of $30,222 in student loans.
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La Salle University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 29 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at La Salle University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $23,774. La Salle University graduates carry a median of $4,004 in student loans.
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Temple University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 23 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $35,205. Typical student debt for the program is $34,372.
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Eastern University placed #16 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Eastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $28,442 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #17 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 56 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,933 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates carry a median of $25,958 in student loans.
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Neumann University came in at #18 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aston. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Neumann University awarded about 29 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Neumann University earn around $35,220 in the first couple years of their career. Neumann University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
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Community College Of Philadelphia earned the #19 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Community College Of Philadelphia awarded about 154 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $32,697. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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Butler County Community College came in at #20 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Butler County Community College awarded about 32 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Butler County Community College earn around $28,138 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,932 to complete this degree.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania landed the #21 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bloomsburg. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $31,805 early in their careers. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $27,128 in student loans.
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Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #22 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $31,038 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans.
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Harcum College placed #23 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 19 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Harcum College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Harcum College generally make around $40,238. Harcum College graduates carry a median of $26,756 in student loans.
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Delaware County Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. Delaware County Community College awarded about 156 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $29,277 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,797 to complete this degree.
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Montgomery County Community College came in at #25 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Blue Bell. There were roughly 222 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Montgomery County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $25,868. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 38 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year:
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 · 38 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.