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2023 Liberal Arts Degree Guide

#2 Most Popular Major
367k Degrees Awarded
0.3% Increase in Graduates

Liberal 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.

2023 Best Colleges for Liberal Arts
2023 Overall Best Liberal Arts Colleges >

Best Liberal Arts Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Liberal Arts
Bachelor's Degrees in Liberal Arts
Master's Degrees in Liberal Arts
Doctorate Degrees in Liberal Arts

 

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Liberal Arts

Prior Education for a Liberal Studies Program

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.

Types of Liberal Arts Degrees

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

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Liberal Studies Graduate

Average Number of Jobs
77k Avg. Related Jobs Salary
9% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

Solid Growth Projected for Liberal Studies Careers

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%

Liberal Studies Degree Salary Potential

As you might expect, salaries for liberal studies graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

Highest Paid Liberal Studies Careers

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

Getting Your Liberal Arts Degree

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

View All Liberal Studies Related Majors >

References

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