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2022 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts

631 Colleges in the United States
25,169 Bachelor's Degrees
Liberal Arts is of the hottest bachelor's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #21 most popular major in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 631 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the most popular for liberal arts students pursuing a bachelor's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 25,169 bachelor's degrees in liberal arts during the 2019-2020 academic year.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

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

Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts Your choice of school for getting your bachelor's degree in liberal studies matters. As an aid in helping you pick the right school for you, we created our Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts ranking.

A high popularity ranking isn't always a sign that a school has a great overall quality ranking for liberal arts, but it does mean that many students are choosing the school for some reason. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools

Associate Degrees in Liberal Studies
Master's Degrees in Liberal Studies
Doctor's Degrees in Liberal Studies
Overall Popularity in Liberal Studies

This ranking is just one of the many we have created. First of all, if you are interested in other degree levels, you may want to take a look at one of the rankings highlighted above. Also, if you are interested in attending school in a specific part of the country, see our rankings by location. Plus, you can view our other rankings for liberal arts.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.


 

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Most Well Attended Schools for Liberal Studies Students Working on Their Bachelor's

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Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY
1,442 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NY
#1 Best Quality In NY

Excelsior College is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Excelsior College is a fairly large private not-for-profit college located in the small city of Albany. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in New York.

There were about 1,442 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Excelsior College

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1,125 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In VA

University of Virginia - Main Campus is a popular choice for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population.

There were roughly 1,125 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from University of Virginia - Main Campus

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628 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In WA
#2 Best Quality In WA

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at The Evergreen State College if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Olympia, Evergreen is a public college with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Washington.

There were roughly 628 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Evergreen in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College

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NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
566 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In NY
#2 Best Quality In NY

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at New York University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. NYU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in New York.

There were roughly 566 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at NYU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from New York University

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545 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In AZ
#2 Best Quality In AZ

NAU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Flagstaff. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Arizona.

There were roughly 545 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at NAU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Northern Arizona University

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485 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In CA
#21 Best Quality In CA

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

There were roughly 485 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Fresno State in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - Fresno

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368 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In FL
#2 Best Quality In FL

Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Florida.

There were about 368 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at FIU in the most recent year we have data available.

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

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357 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NJ
#1 Best Quality In NJ

TESU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Trenton. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in New Jersey.

There were approximately 357 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at TESU in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Thomas Edison State University

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342 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In AZ
#1 Best Quality In AZ

ASU - Skysong is a very large public university located in the city of Scottsdale. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Arizona.

There were roughly 342 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at ASU - Skysong in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Arizona State University - Skysong

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320 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In CA
#11 Best Quality In CA

CSUN is a very large public university located in the city of Northridge.

There were approximately 320 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at CSUN in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - Northridge

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Sarah Lawrence crest
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY
316 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In NY
#8 Best Quality In NY

Located in the large suburb of Bronxville, Sarah Lawrence is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in New York.

There were roughly 316 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Sarah Lawrence in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College

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315 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In CA
#29 Best Quality In CA

CSUSB is a large public university located in the city of San Bernardino.

There were roughly 315 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at CSUSB in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - San Bernardino

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JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
290 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In VA
#1 Best Quality In VA

Located in the small city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Virginia.

There were about 290 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at JMU in the most recent data year.

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

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265 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In CA
#39 Best Quality In CA

CSUB is a large public university located in the city of Bakersfield.

There were roughly 265 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at CSUB in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - Bakersfield

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251 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NC
#2 Best Quality In NC

Located in the small city of Greenville, ECU is a public university with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in North Carolina.

There were approximately 251 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at ECU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from East Carolina University

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249 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IN
#3 Best Quality In IN

Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Indiana.

There were approximately 249 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Ball State in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Ball State University

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249 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In KS
#2 Best Quality In KS

Located in the town of Hays, FHSU is a public university with a large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Kansas.

There were roughly 249 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at FHSU in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Fort Hays State University

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242 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In FL
#1 Best Quality In FL

Located in the large city of Tampa, USF Tampa is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Florida.

There were roughly 242 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at USF Tampa in the most recent data year.

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

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240 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In CA
#13 Best Quality In CA

Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public university with a very large student population.

There were roughly 240 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - Long Beach

20
238 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In IN
#2 Best Quality In IN

Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #2 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Indiana.

There were roughly 238 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Indiana University - Bloomington

21
235 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#6 Most Popular In CA
#17 Best Quality In CA

Located in the suburb of Turlock, Stan State is a public university with a large student population.

There were approximately 235 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Stan State in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - Stanislaus

22
206 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#7 Most Popular In CA
#10 Best Quality In CA

Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a fairly large student population.

There were approximately 206 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from San Diego State University

23
205 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#8 Most Popular In CA
#25 Best Quality In CA

Chico State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Chico.

There were roughly 205 liberal arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Chico State in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from California State University - Chico

24
197 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NM
#3 Best Quality In NM

Located in the city of Albuquerque, UNM is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #3 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in New Mexico.

There were roughly 197 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at UNM in the most recent data year.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from University of New Mexico - Main Campus

25
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
190 Annual Bachelor's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IA
#1 Best Quality In IA

Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for bachelor's degrees in liberal arts in Iowa.

There were roughly 190 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts from University of Iowa

25
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
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SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA
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Rowan crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
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Additional Award Winners

This section represents the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 631 different United States liberal arts schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
51 California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CA
51 Bentley University Waltham, MA
53 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
54 St John’s College Annapolis, MD
55 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
56 Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN
56 Longwood University Farmville, VA
58 Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY
59 The New School New York, NY
60 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
61 Stockton University Galloway, NJ
62 Governors State University University Park, IL
63 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL
63 University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA
63 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
66 The City College of New York New York, NY
66 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
66 Humboldt State University Arcata, CA
69 Purchase College Purchase, NY
70 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
71 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX
71 University of Memphis Memphis, TN
73 Azusa Pacific University College San Dimas, CA
74 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
74 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI
76 Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC
77 Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula, CA
77 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
79 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
80 East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN
80 Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA
82 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY
82 University of South Carolina - Upstate Spartanburg, SC
84 Clayton State University Morrow, GA
85 Morgan State University Baltimore, MD
85 Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO
87 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
88 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
88 University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA
90 George Mason University Fairfax, VA
91 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
91 Iowa State University Ames, IA
93 Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN
93 Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Liberal Arts students that almost earned our Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts award.

Rank College Location
95 William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
95 California Baptist University Riverside, CA
95 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA
98 Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO
98 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
98 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA
101 St. John’s College Santa Fe, NM
102 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
103 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
104 Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Portales, NM
105 Neumann University Aston, PA
105 Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Ponce, PR
107 Wilmington University New Castle, DE
107 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD
109 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
110 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR
111 Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS
112 Montana State University Bozeman, MT
112 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
114 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
114 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
116 University of Houston Houston, TX
117 Lee University Cleveland, TN
118 California University of Pennsylvania California, PA
118 Adams State University Alamosa, CO
120 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
120 Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN
120 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL
120 Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA
120 Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX
120 The Graduate Center, CUNY New York, NY
126 Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS

Liberal Arts by Region

View the Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

One of 3 majors within the Liberal Arts General Studies area of study, Liberal Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Liberal Studies

Related Major Annual Graduates
General Studies 13,667
Individualized Studies 3,659
Humanities 1,741

Notes and References

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