2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in North Carolina
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts / sciences & humanities programs.
College Factual analyzed 72 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in North Carolina
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 North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 19 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $37,709 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 26 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $51,346 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $45,181 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,993 to complete this degree.
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Wake Technical Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #4. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 1,633 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $30,373 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Western Carolina University, which ranked #5. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $44,926 in their early career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Central Piedmont Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. About 1,869 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $24,056. Central Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $7,104 in student loans.
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East Carolina University came in at #7 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 212 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from East Carolina University earn around $36,809 in the first couple years of their career. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Cape Fear Community College placed #8 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 1,217 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $30,056 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,734.
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Randolph Community College earned the #9 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 182 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Randolph Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Randolph Community College earn a median of $40,145 early in their careers.
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Gaston College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Dallas. About 494 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Gaston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,334 to complete this degree.
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Catawba Valley Community College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Hickory. There were roughly 476 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Catawba Valley Community College earn around $23,951 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,429 to complete this degree.
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Wayne Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Wayne Community College awarded about 244 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $26,028. Wayne Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Rowan Cabarrus Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 430 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Rowan Cabarrus Community College generally make around $27,726. Typical student debt for the program is $8,719.
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Alamance Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Alamance Community College awarded about 344 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,855 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,625.
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Stanly Community College placed #15 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. There were roughly 161 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Stanly Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $28,120.
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Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #16 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. About 557 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Forsyth Technical Community College earn around $25,355 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
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Surry Community College came in at #17 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the rural area of Dobson, Surry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Surry Community College awarded about 223 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Surry Community College earn around $24,635 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Beaufort County Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Washington. About 249 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Beaufort County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Beaufort County Community College earn around $38,009 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,947 to complete this degree.
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Mitchell Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Mitchell Community College awarded about 306 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Mitchell Community College earn around $27,667 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,313.
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Montgomery Community College came in at #20 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Montgomery Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Troy. Montgomery Community College awarded about 74 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Montgomery Community College generally make around $38,983.
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Pitt Community College earned the #21 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Winterville. About 480 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Pitt Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $43,022 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,550 to complete this degree.
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Lenoir Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Kinston. There were roughly 156 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Lenoir Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $33,374 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,118 to complete this degree.
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Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #23 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 568 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $36,276. Students borrow a median of $12,037 to complete this degree.
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Durham Technical Community College came in at #24 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Durham Technical Community College awarded about 311 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Durham Technical Community College earn around $23,876 in the first couple years of their career. Durham Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $11,321 in student loans.
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Rockingham Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 147 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Rockingham Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $30,865 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts / sciences & humanities ranking:
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. 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 · 72 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.
