Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States (2026)
Updated
This page ranks 417 schools in the United States by the median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads the list at $147,998, followed by Yale University at $113,788 and Georgetown University at $112,722.
Across the 404 schools with a published figure, median earnings reach $50,652, with values spanning from $147,998 to $15,552.
Public institutions make up 63% of the list, with 261 schools alongside 156 private nonprofits. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College reports the lowest average net price at $3,033.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks 2nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA | $147,998 | $20,111 | -$2,533* | 4.6% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports $147,998 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, alongside a 5% admission rate and a 96% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | Yale University · New Haven, CT | $113,788 | $23,777 | $17,633 | 3.9% |
| With an average net price of $17,633 for families earning under $30,000, Yale University posts $113,788 in median earnings for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (16 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $112,722 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 12.9% |
| Georgetown University admits 13% of applicants and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $112,722 four years after completing, ranking 3rd on this page. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($112,722) | |||||
| 4 | Bentley University · Waltham, MA | $105,183 | $37,930 | $21,196 | 45.1% |
| Bentley University graduates 87% of its students within six years and reports $105,183 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (80 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($105,183) | |||||
| 5 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $96,510 | $14,860 | -$1,264* | 4.5% |
| Ranking 38th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of Chicago shows median earnings of $96,510 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (20 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $93,180 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 7.7% |
| Northwestern University carries an average net price of $1,764 for families earning under $30,000 and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $93,180 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (6 graduates) | |||||
| 7 | Champlain College · Burlington, VT | $91,533 | $35,860 | $28,885 | 82.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Burlington, Champlain College reports $91,533 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and admits 83% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($91,533) | |||||
| 8 | Emory University · Atlanta, GA | $90,025 | $22,585 | $7,363 | 10.7% |
| Emory University posts a 91% six-year completion rate alongside median earnings of $90,025 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (8 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $86,444 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| With an admission rate of 76%, DePaul University reports $86,444 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and ranks 9th on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($86,444) | |||||
| 10 | Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA | $84,166 | $38,509 | $28,055 | 79.4% |
| Drexel University shows an average net price of $38,509 and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $84,166 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($84,166) | |||||
| 11 | University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT | $80,775 | $30,282 | $25,925 | 95.8% |
| Ranking 870th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of Hartford reports $80,775 in median earnings for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (24 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | Life University · Marietta, GA | $78,151 | $29,791 | $28,151 | 93.0% |
| Life University graduates 38% of its students within six years and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $78,151 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (34 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $73,242 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst, a public university in Amherst, reports $73,242 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $22,383. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (82 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($73,242) | |||||
| 14 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $73,089 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 89%, The University of Texas at Austin ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (253 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($73,089) | |||||
| 15 | William Jewell College · Liberty, MO | $72,507 | $17,562 | $12,909 | 38.4% |
| William Jewell College admits 38% of applicants and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $72,507 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($72,507) | |||||
| 16 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $72,422 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| An average net price of $2,004 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with a 15% admission rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (45 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia · Philadelphia, PA | $72,048 | $29,689 | $22,570 | 88.8% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia ranks 17th on this list, with Liberal Arts graduates earning a median of $72,048 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($72,048) | |||||
| 18 | Wesleyan University · Middletown, CT | $71,932 | $30,177 | $4,871 | 16.5% |
| Wesleyan University posts a 93% six-year completion rate and an average net price of $4,871 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($71,932) | |||||
| 19 | University of North Dakota · Grand Forks, ND | $71,538 | $18,551 | $13,126 | 76.9% |
| A public university in Grand Forks, University of North Dakota reports $71,538 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and admits 77% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (101 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($71,538) | |||||
| 20 | Molloy University · Rockville Centre, NY | $71,097 | $24,347 | $17,548 | 81.7% |
| Molloy University ranks 212th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside a 70% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (26 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Xavier University · Cincinnati, OH | $69,546 | $32,997 | $26,728 | 86.4% |
| Xavier University shows an average net price of $32,997 and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $69,546 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($69,546) | |||||
| 22 | Saint Mary's College of California · Moraga, CA | $68,501 | $30,378 | $19,462 | 86.5% |
| With an 87% admission rate, Saint Mary's College of California reports $68,501 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (64 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($68,501) | |||||
| 23 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College · New York, NY | $68,471 | $3,033 | $607 | 47.5% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College reports $68,471 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and carries the lowest average net price on the page at $3,033. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (22 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $68,171 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports an 86% six-year completion rate and an average net price of $7,529 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (107 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($68,171) | |||||
| 25 | Sacred Heart University · Fairfield, CT | $68,092 | $46,174 | $38,691 | 65.4% |
| Sacred Heart University reports $68,092 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $46,174. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (22 graduates) | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Liberal Arts earnings cohort in the United States appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after graduating. For 43 of the 417 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 404 schools with a published figure. The gap between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale University is $34,210, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $132,446.