2026 Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Liberal Arts And General Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 2221 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Liberal Arts And General Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Georgetown University to be the best Liberal Arts And General Studies school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. The median Liberal Arts And General Studies program debt is $25,000. Read the full report on Georgetown University
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top choices in the United States. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Get the full Johns Hopkins University report
The strong Liberal Arts And General Studies programs at Southern Methodist University earned it the #3 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. The median Liberal Arts And General Studies program debt is $20,712. Read more about Southern Methodist University
A rank of #4 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical Liberal Arts And General Studies student debt is $17,625. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
The strong Liberal Arts And General Studies programs at George Mason University earned it the #5 place in the United States. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. George Mason University Liberal Arts And General Studies students take on a median of $24,500 in debt. Get the full George Mason University report
Montana State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Bozeman, MT, Montana State University is a public institution. Montana State University graduates 57% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Students borrow a median of $19,268 to complete their Liberal Arts And General Studies program here. Get the full Montana State University report
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Orleans, LA. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans. See the full Tulane University Of Louisiana profile
University Of Louisville ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. This public school is set in Louisville, KY. University Of Louisville graduates 61% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. University Of Louisville Liberal Arts And General Studies students take on a median of $27,001 in debt. See the full University Of Louisville profile
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #9 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public school based in Las Cruces, NM. About 55% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Typical Liberal Arts And General Studies student debt is $17,577. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Community College Of Philadelphia placed #10 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Community College Of Philadelphia
Hillsborough Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read the full report on Hillsborough Community College
Manchester Community College Nh ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read more about Manchester Community College Nh
Otterbein University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about Otterbein University
Spokane Falls Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read the full report on Spokane Falls Community College
The University Of West Florida came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on The University Of West Florida
Virginia Wesleyan College placed #16 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. See the full Virginia Wesleyan College profile
Carroll Community College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. See the full Carroll Community College profile
Charter Oak State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Get the full Charter Oak State College report
Cuny Lehman College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read more about Cuny Lehman College
Goldey Beacom College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Goldey Beacom College
Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. See the full Jefferson Community And Technical College profile
Marion Military Institute placed #22 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. More on Marion Military Institute
University Of Delaware came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Delaware report
University Of The West landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of The West
Community College Of Beaver County came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about Community College Of Beaver County
Rest of the Top 50 Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Fresno City College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Fresno City College report
Madisonville Community College came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Madisonville Community College report
Marshalltown Community College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Marshalltown Community College
Piedmont Community College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full Piedmont Community College report
Piedmont Technical College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full Piedmont Technical College profile
Prescott College
Prescott College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. More on Prescott College
Wake Technical Community College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Wake Technical Community College
Whitman College
Whitman College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. More on Whitman College
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read the full report on California State University Dominguez Hills
Crafton Hills College did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Crafton Hills College
Fisher College
Fisher College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read the full report on Fisher College
Mchenry County College placed #37 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Mchenry County College
Mclennan Community College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Mclennan Community College
Miami University Hamilton landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Miami University Hamilton
Owensboro Community And Technical College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Owensboro Community And Technical College
Siena Heights University came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about Siena Heights University
Colorado State University Fort Collins did well this year, earning the #42 position. More on Colorado State University Fort Collins
Martin University did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about Martin University
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #44 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. More on Suny College Of Technology At Alfred
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Alexandria Technical And Community College report
Berkshire Community College did well this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Berkshire Community College profile
Green River Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. More on Green River Community College
Loyola University Chicago placed #48 among Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Loyola University Chicago
Madera Community College did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Madera Community College report
Marietta College
Marietta College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. More on Marietta College
Related Liberal Arts And General Studies Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts And General Studies Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2221 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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