2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Virginia
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 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 Virginia
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 530 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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James Madison University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 173 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from James Madison University earn around $49,408 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #3. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 384 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $41,398 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Richmond one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Richmond awarded about 30 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Richmond earn around $53,815 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans.
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University Of Mary Washington is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #5. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,354.
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Longwood University earned the #6 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $46,714. Typical student debt for the program is $25,375.
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Northern Virginia Community College placed #7 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 825 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $28,249 in their early career. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,875 in student loans.
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Bridgewater College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $46,820 in their early career. Bridgewater College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Eastern Mennonite University landed the #9 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Eastern Mennonite University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 14 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Eastern Mennonite University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Eastern Mennonite University generally make around $46,585. Eastern Mennonite University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Hampton University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hampton. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hampton University awarded about 37 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Hampton University earn around $37,179 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #11 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 981 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Lord Fairfax Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $21,827 in their early career. Lord Fairfax Community College graduates carry a median of $8,865 in student loans.
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John Tyler Community College came in at #12 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Chester. There were roughly 645 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at John Tyler Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $25,346 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,055.
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Tidewater Community College placed #13 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Tidewater Community College awarded about 887 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $29,491 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,971.
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Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public university. About 434 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave generally make around $24,029. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave graduates carry a median of $8,625 in student loans.
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Germanna Community College came in at #15 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Locust Grove. About 1,041 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Germanna Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Germanna Community College earn around $26,563 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,227.
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The University Of Virginias College At Wise landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Wise, The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public university. The University Of Virginias College At Wise graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Virginias College At Wise in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from The University Of Virginias College At Wise earn around $43,988 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,714.
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Mary Baldwin College earned the #17 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. Mary Baldwin College graduates 39% of students within six years. Mary Baldwin College awarded about 20 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $40,887 in their early career. Mary Baldwin College graduates carry a median of $27,089 in student loans.
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J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Richmond. About 702 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $27,924. Typical student debt for the program is $9,125.
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Bluefield College placed #19 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Bluefield. Roughly 18% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bluefield College awarded about 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Bluefield College earn around $49,380 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,780.
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Southside Virginia Community College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Southside Virginia Community College awarded about 539 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southside Virginia Community College generally make around $23,346. Southside Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Thomas Nelson Community College came in at #21 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hampton. Thomas Nelson Community College awarded about 218 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Thomas Nelson Community College earn around $31,228 in the first couple years of their career. Thomas Nelson Community College graduates carry a median of $8,165 in student loans.
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Rappahannock Community College earned the #22 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the rural area of Glenns, Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 428 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Rappahannock Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Rappahannock Community College earn around $24,024 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,792.
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Virginia Western Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. About 286 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Virginia Western Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $22,382 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,988 to complete this degree.
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Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff. About 175 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Southwest Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southwest Virginia Community College generally make around $23,756. Southwest Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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New River Community College came in at #25 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 253 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at New River Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $25,746 in their early career. New River Community College graduates carry a median of $10,600 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 36 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 · 36 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.
