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2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

102 Colleges in the Southeast Region
9,766 Bachelor's Degrees
$34,828 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #13 in popularity, liberal arts general studies is one of the most sought-after bachelor's degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 102 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 9,766 bachelor's degrees in liberal arts general studies during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Liberal Arts General Studies School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region The liberal arts bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality liberal arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Liberal Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southeast Region

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for liberal arts general studies students seeking a a bachelor's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

20 Top Southeast Region Schools for a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts

1

University of South Florida - Main Campus is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies. USF Tampa is a very large public university located in the large city of Tampa.

Liberal Arts General Studies bachelor's degree recipients from University of South Florida - Main Campus earn a boost of around $10,402 over the average earnings of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from University of South Florida - Main Campus

2
292 Annual Graduates
$41,398 Median Starting Salary
$33,869 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat George Mason University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies. GMU is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Fairfax.

Bachelor's recipients from the liberal arts general studies program at George Mason University earn $6,570 above the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from George Mason University

3

North Carolina State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies. NC State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Raleigh.

Liberal Arts General Studies bachelor's degree recipients from North Carolina State University receive an earnings boost of about $6,833 over the average income of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from North Carolina State University

4
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
146 Annual Graduates
$49,408 Median Starting Salary
$39,206 Median Student Debt

James Madison University is a wonderful option for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies. JMU is a very large public university located in the city of Harrisonburg.

Liberal Arts General Studies bachelor's degree recipients from James Madison University get an earnings boost of approximately $14,580 above the typical income of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from James Madison University

5
86 Annual Graduates
$45,074 Median Starting Salary
$9,474 Median Student Debt

Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Murfreesboro.

Bachelor's recipients from the liberal arts general studies major at Middle Tennessee State University get $10,246 more than the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Middle Tennessee State University

6
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

U Miami is a large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Coral Gables.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Miami earn $15,786 more than the average liberal arts graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from University of Miami

7

FAU is a very large public university located in the small city of Boca Raton.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn an average of $29,605 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Florida Atlantic University

8
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the liberal arts program report average early career earnings of $35,361.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Florida State University

9
128 Annual Graduates
$34,883 Median Starting Salary
$25,216 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Morgantown, WVU is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Soon after graduating, liberal arts bachelor's recipients usually earn about $34,883 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from West Virginia University

10
177 Annual Graduates
$33,881 Median Starting Salary
$17,631 Median Student Debt

A-State is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Jonesboro.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the liberal arts program report average early career income of $33,881.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Arkansas State University - Main Campus

11
56 Annual Graduates
$37,158 Median Starting Salary
$27,425 Median Student Debt

UofM is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Memphis.

Bachelor's recipients from the liberal arts general studies program at University of Memphis make $2,330 more than the typical college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from University of Memphis

12
229 Annual Graduates
$34,418 Median Starting Salary
$18,154 Median Student Debt

FIU is a very large public university located in the large suburb of Miami.

After graduation, liberal arts bachelor's recipients typically earn around $34,418 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Florida International University

13

UofSC is a very large public university located in the city of Columbia.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn around $33,245 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from University of South Carolina - Columbia

14

Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Liberal Arts General Studies bachelor's degree recipients from American Public University System earn a boost of around $27,231 above the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from American Public University System

15

UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Chapel Hill.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their bachelor's degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill make $2,881 more than the standard liberal arts student.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

16
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
143 Annual Graduates
$32,282 Median Starting Salary
$8,805 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Huntington, Marshall University is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the liberal arts program state that they receive average early career wages of $32,282.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Marshall University

17
Union crest
Union University
Jackson, TN

Union is a small private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Jackson.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their bachelor's degree from Union University make $6,492 more than the standard liberal arts grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Union University

18
29 Annual Graduates

SEU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Lakeland.More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Southeastern University

19
17 Annual Graduates
$27,686 Median Starting Salary
$21,084 Median Student Debt

Located in the distant town of Searcy, Harding is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $27,686 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Harding University

20
133 Annual Graduates
$34,576 Median Starting Salary
$13,648 Median Student Debt

Located in the distant town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make an average of $34,576 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Georgia Southern University

Rest of the Top Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
21 University of Louisville Louisville, KY
22 West Virginia University at Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV
23 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY
24 McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA
25 University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
26 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY
27 University of Mississippi University, MS
28 Lee University Cleveland, TN
29 Thomas More University Crestview Hills, KY
30 Longwood University Farmville, VA
31 Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC
32 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
33 East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN
34 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts general studies schools for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Florida 225 1,059
Georgia 224 619
Tennessee 220 654
North Carolina 213 838
Virginia 213 2,473
South Carolina 195 463
Kentucky 187 916
Alabama 184 333
Louisiana 171 1,077
Mississippi 169 581
Arkansas 167 514
West Virginia 147 1,012

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Liberal Arts General Studies is one of 0 different types of Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities programs to choose from.

Liberal Arts Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts 4,613
General Studies 4,312
Individualized Studies 600
Humanities 241

Notes and References

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