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What is Liberal Arts?

An education in liberal arts was originally designed to provide a comprehensive education in the areas of study necessary in the days of antiquity for a person to be considered free.  Today, a liberal arts curriculum is still focused on providing a balanced, well-rounded education.  Students enrolled in a liberal arts degree will take classes in social sciences, natural sciences, creative writing, philosophy, and critical thinking.

Liberal arts majors are sought after for various positions after earning their degree.  Employers find the skills and knowledge acquired in a liberal arts degree to translate well into the workplace.  From solving complex problems to integrating well into an existing team, the soft and technical skills of a liberal arts major can mesh well in a variety of industries.

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Liberal Arts Degree

Harvard University is committed to learning, research, and teaching, as well as developing the students to become the leaders of the next global generation. It is one of the most prestigious schools in the United states, offering more than 3,700 courses to its diverse community of students. 

It concentrates on providing liberal arts education with a mission to offer a broad intellectual foundation as well as to prepare students in addressing the future challenges and complex issues in society. The programs include courses in arts, engineering and applied sciences, humanities, social sciences, and science. Students of the programs are allowed to craft their own degree plans to suit their academic goals. 

Acceptance Rate

4.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Located in the bustling and diverse city of New York, Columbia University provides unique programs for local and international students who are dedicated to achieving their academic and professional goals. It was founded in 1754 and today, it serves more than 30,000 students each semester. 

As one of the premier universities in the world that offers liberal arts education, the university has developed degree programs that focus on philosophy, literature, psychology, fine arts, history, and more. The programs enable students to have close contact with path-breaking and prize-winning faculty who provides comprehensive advising and a supportive community. Students will be trained to have the essential skills including effective argument, quantitative reasoning, logical interference, argument, and critical thinking. 

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania is recognized as the first higher institution in the United States. It is a private ivy league university that serves the community of Philadelphia and the world. 

The college of arts and sciences of the university offers more than 50 major programs in liberal arts and provides over 2,000 unique courses that enhance the ability of the students to solve, analyze, and identify complex issues and problems. It offers personalized education through various academic options and course selection like study abroad and research programs. Through its broad curriculum and variety of academic resources, the students will explore the depth of liberal arts. 

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a community of students and faculty that are driven to make the world better through innovation, education, and research. It was incorporated in 1861 and currently has a 200 acres campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

The school of humanities, arts, and social sciences has developed liberal arts education including anthropology, linguistics, humanity, music and theater arts, comparative media writing, economics, political sciences, global studies, philosophy, and more. Students will be taught by professors who are passionate about providing excellence and global standards in their academic discipline. Throughout the programs, students will also become deeply engaged in creating fresh ideas and learn how to have a deeper understanding of their fields. 

Acceptance Rate

6.7

Student to Faculty Ratio

3:1

With more than 16,000 students each semester, the University of Chicago has an ethnically diverse and culturally rich community that has been inspiring scholars since 1890. Through its programs, the university empowers the students’ ability to pursue original and unique ideas that would benefit the local and international communities. 

By providing comprehensive liberal arts education in small classroom settings, students can choose to enroll in interdisciplinary programs such as arts, physical sciences, humanities, biological sciences, and social sciences. Students will also gain powerful tools that they can use to impact the world around them as well as become engaged in various outreach, internships, study abroad, and other outside of the classroom programs. The university allows eligible students to receive financial aid and scholarships. 

Acceptance Rate

6.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Stanford University is a private institution located in California that accommodates more than 17,000 students on its 8,000-acre suburban campus. It was founded in 1885 and is known for providing an outstanding academic program and an entrepreneurial student body. 

Designed to offer convenience and flexibility, Stanford’s liberal arts degree provides various opportunities for students to explore thousands of courses across disciplines. It has developed a part-time master’s degree program in liberal arts that can be accessed during evenings to suit the schedules of adult working students. Graduates from this program are now considered successful and highly respected leaders in their chosen fields. 

Acceptance Rate

4.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Established by the Jesuits in 1789, Georgetown University has been providing excellent education through its academic programs and world-class faculty on its 104-acre campus in Washington, D.C. It is known for providing an exceptional academic relationship between the students, staff, and faculty.

It has a liberal arts curriculum that cultivates the intellectual skills including analysis, perception, expression, and interpretation of individuals to sustain the creativity, responsiveness, and curiosity of the community. One of its programs is the bachelor of arts in liberal studies that provides students with the well-rounded expertise they need to achieve a successful career while also balancing the professional and personal commitments. Students can complete the 120-credit program within 2 to 4 years depending on if they choose to enroll in the part-time or full-time online and on-campus options. 

Acceptance Rate

14.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Cornell University encourages students to change the local, national, and global communities by pursuing the unpredicted lines of thinking. Located in Ithaca, New York, the university values diversity, leadership, sustainability, and public engagement.

The College of Arts and Sciences of Cornell University is home to the liberal arts education that embraces active, experiential, and collaborative learning while committing to scholarly and research excellence. It has developed 40 major programs for students who are interested to explore the various fields in liberal arts. Some of its programs include English literature, romance studies, comparative literature, and religious studies. 

Acceptance Rate

10.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Recognized as one of the leading private institutions in the United States, Northwestern University offers a highly collaborative and supportive environment that inspires students to pursue their goals. It is located in Evanston, Illinois, and has been serving the community since 1851. 

Northwestern University offers its graduate and undergraduate students a wide range of liberal arts education that concentrates on social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, fine arts, and other interdisciplinary studies. Students can also pursue a master’s degree that focuses on liberal studies wherein they can explore abroad a variety of courses that would enrich their understanding of cultural and social issues. The program also aims to improve the student’s ability to write, complete, and analyze research. 

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The University of Notre Dame was established by the Catholics with the purpose to inspire individuals in becoming powerful forces to do good and positive changes in the world. It is located in Indiana and accommodates more than 12,000 students on its private campus. 

UND offers a degree in liberal arts studies program that was founded in 1950 that enables students to formulate thoughtful and articulate arguments, communicate effectively, and acquire a broad intellectual background. The students of the program can participate in meetings, seminars, tutorials, and discussions to have more knowledge in theology, cultural history, philosophy, literature, fine arts, and political theory. Upon completion, students will be well-prepared to become leaders in finance, law, business, education, medicine, and more. 

Acceptance Rate

15.83

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Washington University in St. Louis has been providing exceptional research and academic curriculums since 1853. It is a private institution that houses more than 15,000 students each year on its urban campus.  WashU offers programs for individuals to further their studies in liberal arts by providing a master’s degree in the field. The program will foster the intellectual breadth of students while letting them explore literature, religions, and arts. With numerous faculty who are committed to mentor and provide a supportive environment, students will learn and sharper their values through seminars and other student activities that tackle artistic masterpieces, cultural differences, civic responsibilities, and traditions of thought. 

Acceptance Rate

13.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Vanderbilt University or more commonly known as Vandy, is a private university located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Its 330-acre campus was established in 1873 and today, serves over 13,000 students who came from different parts of the nation and the world.   It has outlined a liberal arts and science program for adults who wish to further their studies in the field. With ten courses, the program offers flexible options such as summer and evening classes that can take up to three years to complete. Students will have an opportunity to deepen and broaden their knowledge in a cross-range of subjects as well as become engaged in the community of curious-minded students or adults. Once the program requirements are completed, the student will receive a master’s degree in the field. 

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

As a comprehensive research institution, Rice University is located in Houston, Texas that provides various programs of study on its 300-acre campus. It is known for its excellent education in computer, engineering, economics, sciences, and general studies.   Rice University provides two unique graduate programs that emphasize liberal arts studies. Students can choose to pursue the master’s and post-master’s program that are both guided by the finest faculty who maintain the university and the industry standards. To graduate from the program, students are required to create their own research papers, do oral presentations, and answer examinations that are essential for their professional goals.

Acceptance Rate

8.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Originally, Averett University was established in 1859 as an exclusive institution for women. It is located in Danville, Virginia, and now serves individuals who seek great academic opportunities regardless of their gender or sexuality.  One of the university’s undergraduate programs in liberal studies offers teaching licensure at the elementary level. Students have an option to choose between the bachelor of science or arts, depending on which concentration suits them. The core requirements of the program include biology, literature, writing and research, history, politics, physical science, and public speaking as well as various professional courses for liberal arts studies

Acceptance Rate

23.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

The mission of Johns Hopkins University is to educate students and conduct independent research that promotes lifelong learning. It was founded in 1876 as the first research and academic institution in the United States.  It provides opportunities for individuals to deepen their understanding of the world by expanding their knowledge and creativity through nationally recognized liberal arts studies. Students can earn a master’s degree upon completion of the 10-course program that can be accessed onsite or online. Throughout the 24-month program, students will be provided with diverse and creative courses about film, music, sociology, psychology, history, ecology, world culture, ecology, archeology, and literature. 

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Middlebury College is the home for various studies that emphasizes languages, literature, pedagogy, and literacy since 1800. Located in Vermont, the college is committed to helping students address the most challenging issues of today’s society by engaging them with diverse local communities.

Middlebury is also committed to educating students using the tradition of the methods and disciplines of the liberal arts. It has developed an educational studies program about learning and teaching liberal arts to construct meaningful connections between the student community and faculty members. Students will strengthen their knowledge and understanding of social sciences, mathematics, and humanities as well as the international culture and languages. 

Acceptance Rate

15.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California provides exceptional learning experiences to its students by providing diverse opportunities inside and outside the campus. It serves nearly 50,000 students annually and was founded in 1880 by Robert Widney.

The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences provides a liberal studies program for individuals who wish to further their professional knowledge in the field. Students can learn through the various liberal arts courses such as Asian humanities, western cities, globalizing world, urban conservation biology, leadership, culture, literature, films, fiction, fashion, ecology, and many more. Before earning a degree, students are also required to create three master’s projects and direct research. 

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The University of Virginia is located in the city of Charlottesville and has been serving the students of the community and the world since 1819. Thomas Jefferson established the university with the aim to educate leaders and advance human knowledge.

It offers a flexible online liberal arts degree program that focuses on liberal arts designed for adults who want to complete their undergraduate degrees. The program prepares students for the transition to a new career or graduate studies as well as to develop their problem solving, communication, teamwork, analytical reasoning, time management, and critical thinking. To complete the programs, students need to finish the 120-semester credits that concentrate on liberal arts, technology, healthcare management, and business. 

Acceptance Rate

23.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Carnegie Mellon University offers high-quality interdisciplinary programs in finance, engineering, policy, arts, humanities, business, and science. Its 140-acre campus is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and can accommodate approximately 15,000 students each semester. 

Carnegie Mellon University has a College of Humanities and Social Sciences that stresses on liberal arts such as creative writing, behavioral economics, neurosciences, and bioethics. Students who are interested in taking programs offered by the college can have an option to choose from modern languages, philosophy, English, history, and the like. The university also allows students to apply for scholarships, grants, and other financial aid programs. 

Acceptance Rate

15.44

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Wesleyan University was established in 1831 and currently has 3,000 graduate and undergraduate degree students. It has a diverse and energetic community that provides hand-in-hand practical idealism and critical thinking.  With the aim to challenge students to create new ideas that can change the world, the university offers liberal arts degree programs and provides cutting-edge facilities that establish unique opportunities for students. The bachelor of liberal studies offers diverse areas of concentration that emphasize behavioral sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, and arts education. It is a non-residential program that can be completed after 32-credit hours. 

Acceptance Rate

16.48

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and was founded by the Methodist church in 1836. Its goal is to provide excellent research and teaching to more than 15,000 students every year.

The university provides students with opportunities to study liberal arts, including history, mathematics, literature, social sciences, languages, art, and other fields. Students will experience a unique education that focuses on discovery and creativity that is energized by the world-class faculty. It also established a liberal arts college to create more learning opportunities, thereby promoting the professional, personal and academic development of students. 

Acceptance Rate

15.6

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The University of North Carolina is recognized as the first public institution in the United States to provide innovative teaching, outstanding research, and rich career opportunities. It is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The campus covers an area of 729 acres and can accommodate more than 30,000 students.

It is also known for providing a wide range of liberal arts education, which provides perspectives and understanding of complex issues in a global society. The college of arts and sciences has developed programs that allow students to collaborate, communicate, create, and think with each other to create meaningful lives and successful professional careers. Students can enroll in the various undergraduate programs in social sciences, humanities and fine arts, and mathematics, as well as receive academic counseling from supportive faculty and staff. 

Acceptance Rate

22.63

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Haverford College has a close-knit intellectual community of learners on its serene campus in Pennsylvania. It is known as one of the outstanding institutions that provide research, internships, and professional and undergraduate programs mentored by expert and dedicated professors.

The college has provided a general education concentrating on liberal arts that are designed to help individuals to develop their capacity to understand, think critically, learn, and make thoughtful judgments that contribute to their academic and personal knowledge. Students must complete the 32-course credit to graduate from the four-year program. Throughout the lessons, students are encouraged to learn and explore the social environments as well as philosophy, literature, and arts of the world. 

Acceptance Rate

16.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Northeastern University was established in 1898 with the mission to provide experiential and global learning through its research and academic programs. It is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and accommodates more than 25,000 students per semester.

Individuals who aspire to learn and broaden their knowledge about liberal arts can take the Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts studies offered by the university. The program is designed to explore sciences, humanities, and arts as well as to develop the practical skills of the students, giving them an opportunity to be prepared for graduate education and employment. Students will also foster effective verbal and written communication skills and problem solving.

Acceptance Rate

18.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Villanova University was established in 1842 and is known as the only Augustinian Catholic institution in the United States. It is a private university that houses more than 10,000 students on its 260-acre campus in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

The university’s college of liberal arts and sciences gives opportunities for students to discover and expand their knowledge in liberal studies by providing more than 40 academic programs. Students will have an understanding and intellectual courage to positively change the world through its various programs in math, humanities, and social sciences. Students can earn certificates or graduate and undergraduate degrees upon completing the program requirements.

Acceptance Rate

28.24

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Why Earn a Liberal Arts Degree?

Why you may consider earning a liberal arts degree is ultimately a personal choice. It may come down to your desire to learn about others and the world around you in a holistic manner versus specializing. For some students, it may come down to the inherent satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from learning about the arts or various philosophical viewpoints while others may thrive in a technology start-up by plying a learned set of integrative thinking skills learned in school.

A liberal arts degree can be earned as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) with classes in a wide range of subjects including math, philosophy, English, history, literature, art history, economics, and sociology. Unlike specialty degrees like civil engineering or registered nursing, a liberal arts education is not designed to train you for a specific career. A liberal arts education helps provide students with a set of valuable, marketable skills to help:

  • Effectively process information
  • Communicate effectively with others
  • Think broadly about issues
  • Critically assess the piece-parts of a problem
  • Synthesize relevant information into a coherent whole

What is Included in a Liberal Arts Education?

Liberal arts education is intended to provide students with a wide variety of classes from a number of academic disciplines. By analyzing differing groups from a variety of perspectives through time provides students with a unique prospective applicable in everyday life. A liberal arts education also helps students understand a variety of belief systems and ideas that helped shape the world around us. From physical changes in the environment to art and psychology to business methodologies, a liberal arts major will have exposure to human nature through a unique lens.

Rather than a narrowly defined specialization, liberal arts is diverse and wide. In the first two years of a liberal arts degree program, students will invest time taking a number of introductory courses in:

  • Humanities language, history, philosophy, literature
  • Creative Art speech, fine arts, creative writing, art history
  • Science chemistry, biology, physics, environmental science
  • Social Science economics, political science, anthropology, sociology

After taking a set of introductory courses, most liberal arts programs allow students to link similar classes together to specialize in a particular academic discipline. By investing more time in a core concentration the final two years of the program, students will have a much deeper set of skills in that area of concentration supported by the variety of other coursework.

Is a Liberal Arts Degree Relevant?

Given decades of data from liberal arts graduates, the answer is yes a liberal arts degree is highly relevant. A BA or BS in Liberal Arts is valuable in and of itself for the reasons mentioned prior plus it teaches students a set of heuristics or ways to think about the world around them. Liberal arts majors will be equipped with desirable skills needed by political offices and high tech firms such as: problem solving, effective communication, listening skills, knowledge of language, integrated thinking, critical reasoning, literacy, math, and an innate desire to learn about others.

The BLS published a report indicating a direct correlation between education attainment, income, and job stability. The data shows individuals with a bachelors degree makes more than twice what an individual without a high school diploma and enjoys nearly three times the job stability. This data supports the fact that education pays across all industries and all job types. It is important to understand that liberal arts majors are the second most popular college degree in the United States at around 300,000 graduates per year.

Benefits of a Liberal Arts Degree

If you are wondering why liberal arts degrees are valuable in the workplace, you should consider the facts. Liberal arts programs are in demand from software development firms to research firms to consulting agencies across the country. According to the United States Department of Education, the percentage of students finding full-time employment within the first twelve months of graduation increased across all liberal arts specialties between 1975 through current data. From an earnings standpoint, salaries from social sciences increased by 62% during this same reporting period versus an average of 26% growth for engineering majors.

Given the breadth and depth of a liberal arts degree, students will be ready to contribute to the workplace in a variety of ways that are valued by employers across all industries. Typical attributes and skills of a liberal arts major include the following list of characteristics:

  1. Quality communication with people at all levels of an organization
  2. Motivated, goal-oriented, and willing to take initiative
  3. Robust work ethic and commitment to team goals
  4. Attention to detail and critical thinking ability
  5. Empathy for others and valuing team member's points of view
  6. Balanced education in humanities, science, and social sciences
  7. Multi-faceted problem-solving skills and analytic skills
  8. Eager learning mentality and independent thinking ability
  9. An adaptable, flexibility mindset necessary in team settings
  10. Effective written communication and verbal communication skills

Top Online Liberal Arts Degrees

The fastest growing segment within higher education is the online learning or distance learning modality.  Given the structure, flexibility, independence, and quality of degrees offered, online learning is expected to continue to outpace other types of degree programs for the foreseeable future.

Earning a liberal arts degree online will be no different.   In fact, online liberal arts degree programs are one of the five most popular online degree programs in the United States.   If you are considering earning a liberal arts degree online this year, take the time to read our resources for online students and utilize our proprietary online degree matching tool to find the best school for you in seconds.

Difference Between Liberal Arts, General Studies, and Humanities Degrees

The difference between a liberal arts degree, a general studies degree, and a humanities degree comes down to the emphasis each place on particular academic subjects.  We have summarized each below to help you quickly understand each type of degree in order to compare and contrast using your priorities as a baseline.

  • Liberal Arts Degree is the type of college degree that combines various academic disciplines emphasizing a wide breadth of study instead of a narrowly focused type of study. The basics of a liberal arts program will typically include studies in: art, biological science, social science, humanities, physical science, and literature.
  • General Studies Degree can come in a variety of ways with some schools allowing students to pick and choose varying number of classes in science, art, and humanities while other schools structure classes in a more rigid manner.
  • Humanities Degree is a degree path that emphasizes studies in literature, language, music, art, religion, and philosophy over studies in physical science or biological science found in a liberal arts degree.

Educational Requirements in Liberal Arts

A liberal arts degree provides a course of education that allows students to experience a cross section of academia. The degree is notable in that it educates students in the process of learning. The various skills provided include writing, research, analytic thinking, and speech. Unlike most degrees that prepare an individual to pursue a career in a particular field, a liberal arts degree provides a broad base of knowledge that can be appealing to potential employers as well as more focused graduate programs. Coursework in liberal arts is varied; some students will seek to specialize, while others may take in the broad spectrum of knowledge the degree covers. Such programs will include various science and humanities courses to fill out the curriculum.

Classes that may be offered include:

  • Contemporary Literature
  • Archaeology
  • Logic and Critical Reasoning
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Political Science
  • Modern Political Thought
  • Creative Writing & English Composition
  • Comparative Religion
  • Ethics
  • Principles of Economics

Employment Opportunities for Liberal Arts Graduates

Someone pursuing a career with a liberal arts degree will be selling the skills he or she has acquired rather than a specific major. Often times those who have obtained a degree in liberal arts will find themselves working in a field that is far removed from their area of concentration.

It is important to note that master's programs also tend to prefer those who have obtained a degree in liberal arts, mostly due to the research and writing skills that must be developed in order to graduate. Recent articles by the Wall Street Journal tout the myriad benefits of earning a liberal arts degree in an era of specialization given the way students are taught and how they solve problems.

Career Outlook and Related Fields

As the positions and opportunities for a liberal arts major are numerous and varied, the average salary will depend on the position acquired. To learn more about the average salary for your state and/or region, simply visit the BLS to discover median income averages and employment history data.

Some positions available to a liberal arts degree holder include:

  • Writer
  • Artist
  • Copywriter
  • Paralegal
  • Librarian
  • Teacher
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Human Resource Specialist
  • Photographer
  • Production Assistant

A liberal arts degree is designed to help students discover their interests while developing skills that are necessary for maintaining a successful career. A liberal arts degree holder must demonstrate confidence in his or her abilities and how they apply to a potential job. If you are interested in a liberal arts degree, you may wish to consider a degree in humanistic studies or general studies.

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