2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Southwest Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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.
College Factual analyzed 171 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts / sciences & humanities education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Austin, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 415 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $69,994 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $19,052 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Southern Methodist University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $57,967. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arizona is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #3. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,834 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861.
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University Of North Texas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 374 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $36,588 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,254.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #5. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Northern Arizona University awarded about 243 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $43,752 in their early career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #6 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus awarded about 240 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $55,222 in their early career. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Texas earned the #7 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Texas awarded about 38 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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 / sciences & humanities this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 216 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $38,829 early in their careers. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $26,599 in student loans.
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Abilene Christian University placed #9 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 27 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Abilene Christian University earn around $56,463 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree.
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Collin County Community College District came in at #10 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of McKinney. About 2,418 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $32,114 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,250.
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Texas A And M University San Antonio landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 51 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University San Antonio in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Texas A And M University San Antonio earn a median of $45,681 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,771 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston earned the #12 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $35,565 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston Clear Lake in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete this degree.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 293 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $37,938. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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El Centro College placed #15 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. El Centro College awarded about 5,908 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from El Centro College earn around $33,060 in the first couple years of their career. 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 / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 102 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $42,008. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Austin Community College District came in at #17 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. About 2,074 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $38,436. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Texas Tech University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 265 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $40,600. 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 / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arizona State University awarded about 98 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $44,173 in their early career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
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Alvin Community College earned the #20 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Alvin. About 407 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Alvin Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $35,306. Students borrow a median of $8,081 to complete this degree.
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West Texas A And M University came in at #21 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the town of Canyon. About 48% of students finish within six years. West Texas A And M University awarded about 182 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $40,793 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Tarrant County College District earned the #22 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. About 4,598 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Tarrant County College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Tarrant County College District earn around $30,179 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,944 to complete this degree.
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Lee College earned the #23 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the city of Baytown. Lee College awarded about 489 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $31,916. Typical student debt for the program is $8,476.
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University Of Dallas ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irving. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dallas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $58,396 in their early career. University Of Dallas graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #25 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 281 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $40,185 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,750.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for liberal arts / sciences & humanities:
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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 · 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.
