by our College Data Analytics TeamLiberal Arts was the 2nd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 366,996 degrees in this year alone. This represents a small change of only 0.3% from the prior year's total of 365,980 liberal studies degrees awarded.
This year's Best Liberal Arts Schools ranking compares 835 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom liberal studies rankings further below.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most liberal studies degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific liberal studies careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of liberal studies degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in liberal arts to something that takes less time like a . The type of liberal studies degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
Want a job when you graduate with your liberal studies degree? Liberal Arts careers are expected to grow 9.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to liberal arts.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Professors | 258,700 | 9.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for liberal studies graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for liberal arts graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers liberal studies grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Professors | $76,990 |
With over 2,284 different liberal studies degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased liberal studies school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Liberal Arts General Studies area of study, Liberal Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Studies | 129,869 |
| Individualized Studies | 37,634 |
| Humanities | 22,314 |
