Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
James Madison University, Bridgewater College and Longwood University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. James Madison University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,408, College Scorecard. University of Virginia, George Mason University and James Madison University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Virginia: 530, 384 and 173 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 48 Virginia colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 11,168 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 10 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 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,408 | 173 | 80% | — | $23,250 |
| 2 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,820 | 22 | 53% | $19,485 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,714 | 41 | 61% | — | $25,375 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,398 | 384 | 68% | — | $24,500 |
| 5 | Mary Baldwin University Staunton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,887 | 20 | 39% | $18,500 | $27,089 |
| 6 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,677 | 48 | 66% | — | $22,354 |
| 7 | Hampton University Hampton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,179 | 37 | 57% | $34,268 | $26,000 |
| 8 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,585 | 14 | 67% | $21,933 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,669 | 2 | 65% | $28,911 | $25,291 |
| 10 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,877 | 3 | 39% | — | $31,000 |
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 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Public · Certificate | $31,228 | 218 | 34% | — | $10,375 |
| 2 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public · Associate degree | $31,068 | 702 | 32% | — | $11,000 |
| 3 | Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville Public · Certificate | $28,910 | 351 | 39% | — | $9,250 |
| 4 | Danville Community College Danville Public · Associate degree | $28,056 | 212 | 39% | — | $9,397 |
| 5 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown Public · Associate degree | $28,017 | 981 | 45% | — | $8,865 |
| 6 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $27,294 | 887 | 32% | — | $11,000 |
| 7 | Paul D Camp Community College Franklin Public · Associate degree | $27,232 | 120 | 36% | — | $7,955 |
| 8 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove Public · Associate degree | $27,088 | 1,041 | 46% | — | $8,267 |
| 9 | New River Community College Dublin Public · Associate degree | $25,694 | 253 | 50% | — | $10,600 |
| 10 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public · Associate degree | $25,240 | 645 | 38% | — | $9,359 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Virginia
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 Virginia Charlottesville Public | 530 | Not reported |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 384 | $41,398 |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 173 | $49,408 |
| 4 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge Public | 94 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise Public | 77 | Not reported |
| 6 | Eastern Shore Community College Melfa Public | 64 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 48 | $37,677 |
| 8 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 41 | $46,714 |
| 9 | Hampton University Hampton Private not-for-profit | 37 | $37,179 |
| 10 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 38 Virginia 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
University of Virginia (530 graduates a year), George Mason University (384 graduates a year) and James Madison University (173 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 48 Virginia colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, James Madison University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,408, College Scorecard. Bridgewater College and Longwood University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Virginia is the largest, with 530 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, James Madison University tops the list at $49,408. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Virginia is $102,560 (median $84,060), across about 1,580 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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