Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts General Studies
Education Levels of Liberal Arts Majors
In 2017-2018, 45,739 earned their bachelor's degree in liberal arts. This earns it the #11 spot on the list of the most popular bachelor's degree programs in the nation. The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in liberal arts at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree | 398,527 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 65,701 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 45,739 |
| Basic Certificate | 3,883 |
| Master’s Degree | 2,484 |
| Graduate Certificate | 327 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 93 |
Earnings of Liberal Arts Majors With Bachelor’s Degree
The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in liberal arts is $30,200. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money.
To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $26,400 to a high of $33,900.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in liberal arts is $23,644. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $27,000 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $20,137.
The median monthly payment of a liberal arts graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $245.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in liberal arts. About 64.2% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 16,386 |
| Women | 29,353 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of liberal arts bachelor’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1,559 |
| Black or African American | 6,694 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6,562 |
| White | 25,702 |
| International Students | 1,023 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 4,199 |
Most Popular Liberal Arts Programs for Bachelor’s Degree
There are 1,073 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for liberal arts students seekinga bachelor's degree is Excelsior College. Each year, around 34,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The liberal arts program at Excelsior College awarded 1,424 bachelor's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Around 34% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 54% were women.
University of Virginia - Main Campus is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 24,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,509 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,018 per year.
The liberal arts program at University of Virginia - Main Campus awarded 954 bachelor's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Of these students, 64% were women and 33% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The Evergreen State College comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 3,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,810 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,418 per year.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, 772 people received their bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Evergreen. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women.
University of North Texas is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Each year, around 38,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,103 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,450 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 762 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at UNT. Around 52% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 55% were women.
The 5th most popular school in the country for liberal arts majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Southern New Hampshire University. Each year, around 90,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,756 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,810 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 711 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at SNHU. About 52% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 6th most popular school in the country for liberal arts majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is New York University. Each year, around 51,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $49,256 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $42,888 per year.
The liberal arts program at New York University awarded 587 bachelor's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. About 68% of this group were women, and 37% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 7th most popular school in the country for liberal arts majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Brigham Young University - Idaho. Each year, around 51,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2017-2018 academic year, 574 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at BYU - I. Around 7% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 80% were women.
Northern Arizona University is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 31,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,738 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,795 per year.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, 574 people received their bachelor's degree in liberal arts from NAU. Around 41% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 62% were women.
Thomas Edison State University is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 11,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,519 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,024 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 502 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at TESU. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 59% were women.
The 10th most popular school in the country for liberal arts majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Middle Tennessee State University. Each year, around 21,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,032 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,496 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 465 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at Middle Tennessee State University. About 64% of this group were women, and 34% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 11th most popular school in the country for liberal arts majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Columbia College. Each year, around 13,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,190 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,874 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 434 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at Columbia College Missouri. Of these students, 51% were women and 39% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 7,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $39,686 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,896 per year.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, 411 people received their bachelor's degree in liberal arts from FDU. Of these students, 36% were women and 39% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
California State University - Fresno is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Each year, around 25,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,742 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,176 per year.
The liberal arts program at California State University - Fresno awarded 370 bachelor's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Of these students, 84% were women and 64% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The University of Texas at Arlington is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Each year, around 46,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,080 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,898 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 361 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at UT Arlington. About 62% of this group were women, and 57% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Each year, around 28,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,788 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,683 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 360 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at University of Oklahoma. Of these students, 56% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Nebraska at Omaha is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 15,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,082 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,053 per year.
The liberal arts program at University of Nebraska at Omaha awarded 329 bachelor's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. About 53% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Sarah Lawrence College comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Each year, around 1,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,440 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $28,224 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 310 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at Sarah Lawrence. Around 25% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 73% were women.
George Mason University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Roughly 35,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,060 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,736 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 307 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at GMU. Around 43% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 75% were women.
The 19th most popular school in the country for liberal arts majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is DePaul University. Each year, around 22,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $39,369 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,032 per year.
The liberal arts program at DePaul University awarded 302 bachelor's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Of these students, 62% were women and 47% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
California State University - Northridge comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Each year, around 41,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,742 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,176 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 301 bachelor's degree were handed out to liberal arts majors at California State University - Northridge. About 76% of this group were women, and 67% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803) under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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