Best institutions to study Liberal Arts and Sciences
Compare 2,052 U.S. colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 59 states.
Liberal Arts and Sciences programs report a median of $28,917 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 24.01 and the Postsecondary Teachers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC).
About Liberal Arts and Sciences programs
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 academic experience that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills. It is ideal for those who wish to explore diverse fields of study rather than focus solely on vocational or technical training.
Students in this program engage with a wide range of subjects, including natural and formal sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Core coursework emphasizes analytical skills, cultural awareness, and ethical reasoning, preparing graduates for various intellectual pursuits and lifelong learning.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,135 | 8 | 96% | $11,666 | $11,935 |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,066 | 26 | 68% | $28,141 | $42,350 |
| 3 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Certificate degree | $79,921 | 88 | 83% | — | $17,917 |
| 4 | Molloy University Rockville Centre, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,868 | 33 | 70% | $25,812 | $31,000 |
| 5 | Champlain College Burlington, VT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,207 | 18 | 65% | $32,531 | $23,949 |
| 6 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,719 | 69 | 95% | $22,242 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Thomas More University Crestview Hills, KY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,607 | 31 | 40% | $18,902 | $29,358 |
| 8 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,470 | 47 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,154 |
| 9 | Yale University New Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,133 | 24 | 96% | $27,025 | $15,750 |
| 10 | Maria College of Albany Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $60,857 | 4 | 30% | $16,991 | — |
| 11 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $59,139 | 60 | 95% | $14,799 | $19,312 |
| 12 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, OK Public · Associate degree | $57,445 | 21 | 21% | — | $17,291 |
| 13 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,778 | 4 | 85% | — | $21,250 |
| 14 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,094 | 7 | 70% | $25,578 | $27,000 |
| 15 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · Associate degree | $55,667 | 116 | 33% | $15,554 | $15,923 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,436 | 345 | 48% | — | $11,000 |
| 17 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,766 | 7 | 79% | $34,418 | $43,575 |
| 18 | University of St Thomas Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,187 | 38 | 69% | $19,546 | $25,000 |
| 19 | Excelsior University Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,429 | 1,202 | — | — | $11,875 |
| 20 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Associate degree | $52,108 | 1,402 | 57% | $10,199 | $6,125 |
| 21 | Marion Technical College Marion, OH Public · Associate degree | $51,927 | 110 | 31% | — | $12,812 |
| 22 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI Public · Certificate degree | $51,663 | 1,600 | 17% | — | $16,767 |
| 23 | Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,054 | 22 | 57% | $12,935 | $31,000 |
| 24 | Athens State University Athens, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,903 | 101 | — | — | $27,839 |
| 25 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,614 | 39 | 84% | $26,589 | $28,590 |
| 26 | Trinity Washington University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,283 | 27 | 49% | $14,841 | $10,645 |
| 27 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,779 | 386 | — | — | $19,766 |
| 28 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,408 | 173 | 80% | — | $23,250 |
| 29 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,147 | 98 | 68% | — | $31,000 |
| 30 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,147 | 351 | 0% | — | $31,000 |
| 31 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,083 | 6 | 44% | — | $32,145 |
| 32 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,010 | 48 | 11% | $26,445 | $31,500 |
| 33 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,829 | 7 | 80% | $24,886 | $54,581 |
| 34 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,819 | 51 | 50% | $24,333 | $28,000 |
| 35 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,391 | 548 | 78% | — | $15,135 |
| 36 | Northwest University Kirkland, WA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $47,645 | 1 | 71% | $21,433 | $12,000 |
| 37 | Northwest University - Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, WA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $47,645 | 7 | 50% | $26,831 | $12,000 |
| 38 | Columbia College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $47,598 | 387 | 42% | $23,247 | $15,960 |
| 39 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,241 | 16 | 51% | $21,745 | $21,004 |
| 40 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,121 | 23 | 64% | $19,806 | $30,657 |
| 41 | Xavier University Cincinnati, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,064 | 44 | 69% | $31,119 | $23,250 |
| 42 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,820 | 22 | 53% | $19,485 | $26,000 |
| 43 | Longwood University Farmville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,714 | 41 | 61% | — | $25,375 |
| 44 | Winona State University Winona, MN Public · Associate degree | $46,673 | 52 | 57% | — | $13,062 |
| 45 | Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,654 | 37 | 47% | $22,639 | $33,291 |
| 46 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,585 | 14 | 67% | $21,933 | $27,000 |
| 47 | Antioch University - Los Angeles Culver City, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,487 | 29 | — | — | $29,832 |
| 48 | Antioch University - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,487 | 7 | — | — | $29,832 |
| 49 | Antioch University - Seattle Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,487 | 11 | — | — | $29,832 |
| 50 | Antioch University Yellow Springs, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,487 | 13 | — | — | $29,832 |
Offered across 59 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1199, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program can pursue a variety of career paths, although specific occupations may vary. The job outlook indicates little or no change in this field, with an annual opening of approximately 13,500 positions and a median wage of $78,490. A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Liberal Arts and Sciences
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 24.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 24.01 (Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1199 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Otherprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Concentrations within Liberal Arts and Sciences
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesCIP 24.0101
A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study
- General StudiesCIP 24.0102
An undifferentiated program that includes instruction in the general arts, general science, or unstructured studies.
- Humanities/Humanistic StudiesCIP 24.0103
A program that focuses on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy an
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, OtherCIP 24.0199
Any single instructional program in liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities not listed above.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The program focuses on providing a broad educational foundation across various disciplines, including sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
What kind of coursework can I expect?+
Students can expect coursework that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 13,500 annual openings and a median wage of $78,490.
What level of education is typically required for advancement?+
A doctoral or professional degree is typically required for advancement in this field.
How much do Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates earn?+
Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates report median earnings of $28,917 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Postsecondary Teachers, All Other occupation pays about $90,630 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Liberal Arts and Sciences?+
Liberal Arts and Sciences maps to CIP 24.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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