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2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in California

37 Colleges in California
5,142 Bachelor's Degrees
$32,469 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 37 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in California ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 5,142 bachelor's degrees in liberal arts general studies to qualified students.

What's on this page: * 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 California Your choice of liberal arts general studies for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

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

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete 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.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in California ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 California

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for liberal arts general studies students seeking a a bachelor's degree.

10 Top California Schools for a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts

1

Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies needs to take a look at Saint Mary's College of California. Located in the large suburb of Moraga, SMC is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's College of California make $23,625 more than the standard liberal arts grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Saint Mary’s College of California

2

Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies has to take a look at California State University - Sacramento. Sac State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Sacramento.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the liberal arts program report average early career earnings of $30,286.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from California State University - Sacramento

3
TAC crest
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA

Thomas Aquinas College is a good choice for individuals interested in a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the rural area of Santa Paula, TAC is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $33,432 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from Thomas Aquinas College

4
116 Annual Graduates
$35,056 Median Starting Salary
$32,104 Median Student Debt

It is hard to beat California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in liberal arts general studies. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public university located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo earn $2,587 more than the typical liberal arts student.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

5
227 Annual Graduates
$23,190 Median Starting Salary
$28,136 Median Student Debt

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

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn an average of $23,190 in their early career salary.

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

6
51 Annual Graduates
$32,112 Median Starting Salary
$17,982 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of San Francisco, SFSU 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 $32,112.

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

7

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

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn about $33,324 in their early career salary.

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

8
59 Annual Graduates
$35,194 Median Starting Salary
$25,100 Median Student Debt

Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the liberal arts general studies program at Azusa Pacific University earn $2,725 above the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

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

9

Chico State is a large public university located in the medium-sized city of Chico.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $27,196 for their early career.

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

10
250 Annual Graduates
$30,413 Median Starting Salary
$16,427 Median Student Debt

Located in the suburb of Seaside, CSUMB is a public university with a medium-sized student population.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the liberal arts program state that they receive average early career earnings of $30,413.

More information about a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies from California State University - Monterey Bay

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 226 893
Oregon 185 318
Nevada 129 52
Hawaii 112 82
Alaska 75 3

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One of 0 majors within the Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities area of study, Liberal Arts General Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Liberal Arts Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts 4,749
Humanities 261
Individualized Studies 71
General Studies 61

Notes and References

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