Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Drexel University, Neumann University and Temple University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Drexel University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,470, College Scorecard. University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Western University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania: 153, 109 and 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 89 Pennsylvania colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 3,010 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,470 | 47 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,154 |
| 2 | Neumann University Aston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,220 | 29 | 54% | $28,753 | $31,000 |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,205 | 23 | 75% | — | $34,372 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,573 | 97 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,174 | 34 | 56% | — | $31,000 |
| 6 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,436 | 29 | 92% | $33,774 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $53,766 | 7 | 79% | $34,418 | $43,575 |
| 8 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,805 | 15 | 54% | — | — |
| 9 | Juniata College Huntingdon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,548 | 2 | 74% | $24,867 | $26,857 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern University Saint Davids Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $28,442 | 51 | 54% | $25,146 | $25,187 |
| 2 | Butler County Community College Butler Public · Associate degree | $28,138 | 32 | 37% | — | $6,932 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown Public · Associate degree | $24,728 | 67 | 38% | — | $11,488 |
| 4 | Bucks County Community College Newtown Public · Associate degree | $24,235 | 24 | 32% | — | $10,426 |
| 5 | La Salle University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $23,774 | 29 | 57% | $21,997 | $4,004 |
| 6 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville Public · Associate degree | $19,448 | 118 | 30% | — | $11,000 |
| 7 | Lackawanna College Scranton Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $13,920 | 66 | 37% | $25,320 | $16,000 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park Public · Associate degree Online | $40,658 | 56 | 34% | — | $20,000 |
| 9 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Public · Associate degree | $32,697 | 154 | 24% | — | $14,000 |
| 10 | Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg Public · Associate degree | $30,455 | 141 | 21% | — | $16,643 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 153 | Not reported |
| 2 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 109 | Not reported |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public | 97 | $33,573 |
| 4 | Reading Area Community College Reading Public | 70 | Not reported |
| 5 | Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Public | 67 | Not reported |
| 6 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 50 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 8 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 47 | $62,470 |
| 9 | Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre Private not-for-profit | 46 | Not reported |
| 10 | Alvernia University Reading Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 79 Pennsylvania colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
University of Pennsylvania (153 graduates a year), West Chester University of Pennsylvania (109 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania Western University (97 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 89 Pennsylvania colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Drexel University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,470, College Scorecard. Neumann University and Temple University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 153 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Drexel University tops the list at $62,470. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Pennsylvania is $94,570 (median $65,400), across about 12,100 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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