Best institutions to study Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study.
1,437 U.S. institutions graduated 347,882 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 24.0101, a specialization of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 24.01), and leads most directly to the Postsecondary Teachers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 25-1199).
About Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies programs
A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. Includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies program offers a comprehensive education that integrates various disciplines, including the arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This program is designed for students seeking a broad understanding of diverse fields, fostering critical thinking and effective communication skills. It is ideal for those who wish to explore multiple areas of interest before specializing.
Students in this program engage in a structured combination of coursework that emphasizes breadth of study. This includes independently designed projects and individualized learning experiences, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals.
Credentials awarded
What Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree241,278 graduates / yr · 996 institutions69%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years73,460 graduates / yr · 178 institutions21%
- Bachelor's degree19,799 graduates / yr · 489 institutions5.7%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year12,049 graduates / yr · 65 institutions3.5%
- Master's degree748 graduates / yr · 82 institutions0.2%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years377 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate124 graduates / yr · 9 institutions0.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship33 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.0%
- Award of less than 12 weeks13 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 295,883 |
| 2013 | 290,315 |
| 2014 | 293,162 |
| 2015 | 299,936 |
| 2016 | 318,544 |
| 2017 | 326,245 |
| 2018 | 336,800 |
| 2019 | 359,808 |
| 2020 | 365,239 |
| 2021 | 365,910 |
| 2022 | 353,898 |
| 2023 | 333,631 |
| 2024 | 343,159 |
| 2025 | 347,882 |
Top 50 institutions for Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAssociate's | 7,245 | 21% | — | $27,180 |
| 2 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAssociate's | 7,027 | 46% | — | $25,905 |
| 3 | Valencia College Orlando, FLPublicAssociate's | 6,441 | 48% | — | $25,001 |
| 4 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4,443 | 36% | — | — |
| 5 | Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3,859 | 21% | — | — |
| 6 | Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FLPublicAssociate's | 3,706 | 39% | — | $28,775 |
| 7 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 3,358 | 31% | — | $18,208 |
| 8 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 3,170 | 48% | — | $19,673 |
| 9 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2,811 | 26% | — | — |
| 10 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FLPublicAssociate's | 2,726 | 34% | — | $30,406 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2,703 | 46% | — | — |
| 12 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2,586 | 34% | — | $28,092 |
| 13 | Tallahassee State College Tallahassee, FLPublicAssociate's | 2,489 | 38% | — | $25,467 |
| 14 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FLPublicAssociate's | 2,361 | 38% | — | $29,069 |
| 15 | Golden West College Huntington Beach, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2,357 | 49% | — | — |
| 16 | Pasco - Hernando State College New Port Richey, FLPublicAssociate's | 2,295 | 41% | — | $27,253 |
| 17 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FLPublicAssociate's | 2,290 | 41% | — | $29,805 |
| 18 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2,241 | 57% | — | — |
| 19 | Santa Fe College Gainesville, FLPublicAssociate's | 2,232 | 53% | — | $25,823 |
| 20 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2,231 | 28% | — | $31,002 |
| 21 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2,213 | 31% | — | $27,782 |
| 22 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2,081 | 44% | — | — |
| 23 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2,046 | 48% | — | $24,128 |
| 24 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1,999 | 31% | — | $28,760 |
| 25 | Ventura College Ventura, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1,998 | 38% | — | — |
| 26 | Georgia State University - Perimeter College Atlanta, GAPublicAssociate's | 1,948 | 22% | — | $29,070 |
| 27 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,929 | 30% | — | — |
| 28 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,893 | 39% | — | $23,856 |
| 29 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NCPublicAssociate's | 1,869 | 31% | — | $24,056 |
| 30 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FLPublicAssociate's | 1,826 | 45% | — | $25,578 |
| 31 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 1,752 | 24% | — | — |
| 32 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FLPublicAssociate's | 1,748 | 52% | — | $26,771 |
| 33 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,725 | 25% | — | — |
| 34 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,703 | 37% | — | $33,413 |
| 35 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicAssociate's | 1,701 | 41% | — | $27,926 |
| 36 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,667 | 37% | — | — |
| 37 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAssociate's | 1,661 | 24% | — | $23,641 |
| 38 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NCPublicAssociate's | 1,633 | 33% | — | $30,373 |
| 39 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1,625 | 34% | — | — |
| 40 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAssociate's | 1,619 | 37% | — | $30,678 |
| 41 | Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FLPublicAssociate's | 1,608 | 39% | — | $27,740 |
| 42 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1,583 | 48% | — | $27,619 |
| 43 | Bergen Community College Paramus, NJPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1,571 | 21% | — | $23,966 |
| 44 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1,567 | 37% | — | — |
| 45 | Fullerton College Fullerton, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,544 | 34% | — | — |
| 46 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,511 | 37% | — | $33,628 |
| 47 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KSPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1,509 | 31% | — | $29,855 |
| 48 | West Valley College Saratoga, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1,488 | 51% | — | $26,161 |
| 49 | Collin County Community College District McKinney, TXPublicAssociate's | 1,473 | 20% | — | $32,114 |
| 50 | Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1,413 | 36% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Liberal Arts and Sciences field (CIP 24.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 58 states & territories
Where Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Liberal Arts and Sciences programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1199, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies program can pursue careers as postsecondary teachers and in various other fields. The job outlook for related occupations shows a growth rate of 1.8%, with approximately 13,500 annual openings and a median wage of $78,490, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 24.0101
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Postsecondary Teachers, All Otherprimary SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Liberal Arts and Sciences specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 24.01).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, or a Bachelor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 1,437 colleges offering the Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies program in the U.S.
What is the annual number of graduates from this program?+
Approximately 347,882 students graduate from this program each year in the U.S.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with a growth rate of 1.8% for related occupations.
What is the CIP code for Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies?+
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies is CIP 24.0101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 24.01). NCES defines it as: A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. Includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs.
How many institutions offer Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies programs?+
1,437 U.S. institutions reported Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 58 states & territories, awarding 347,882 credentials in the year. That is 63.5% of all Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.
How much do Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Postsecondary Teachers, All Other occupation, which Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,640 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Liberal Arts and Sciences field report median earnings of $28,465 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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