Best Liberal Arts colleges in the U.S. 2026
In today’s world and job market, a degree in liberal arts can be essential. Through a broad range of classes, liberal arts majors will learn skills beyond just the technicalities of a particular job. Students learn tools far more valuable such as communication, ethics, and “people skills” for starters. A liberal arts degree provides an overview of the arts, consisting of humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences - all which are needed to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
A few of the more common areas within the study of liberal arts include communications, anthropology, English, history, language and linguistics, philosophy, math, political sciences, psychology, and sociology. If you’re looking for an overall great education for crucial life skills, exploring a liberal arts degree is a great idea.
Best Liberal Arts colleges in the U.S. for 2026
Georgetown University offers 3 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 35 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 17 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Master's degrees, and 7 Doctoral degrees.
Southern Methodist University offers 4 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 41 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 24 Master's degrees, and 17 Doctoral degrees.
Wesleyan University offers 2 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 26 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 15 Master's degrees, and 11 Bachelor's degrees.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers 4 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 44 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 23 Master's degrees, 13 Bachelor's degrees, and 8 Certificates.
The University of Texas at Austin offers 3 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 221 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 149 Bachelor's degrees, 55 Certificates, and 17 Master's degrees.
New York University offers 4 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 691 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 634 Bachelor's degrees, 41 Master's degrees, and 16 Associate's degrees.
University of South Florida offers 4 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 407 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 197 Associate's degrees, 196 Bachelor's degrees, and 14 Master's degrees.
Villanova University offers 5 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 19 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 14 Bachelor's degrees, and 5 Associate's degrees.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus offers 5 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 240 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 123 Master's degrees, 115 Bachelor's degrees, and 2 Certificates.
George Mason University offers 1 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 101 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies students graduated with students earning 101 Bachelor's degrees.
Find local colleges with Liberal Arts majors in the U.S.
List of all Liberal Arts colleges in the U.S.
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Georgetown University Washington, DC | 17 : 1 | 20,031 | |
|
Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | 15 : 1 | 12,116 | |
|
Wesleyan University Middletown, CT | 9 : 1 | 4,011 | |
|
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | 20 : 1 | 38,464 | |
|
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | 19 : 1 | 53,864 | |