2026 Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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 Sciences Humanities Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Set in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. Typical Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities student debt is $19,312. Read more about Northwestern University
Out of the 2221 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #2 spot. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. About 85% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $25,993 in debt. Get the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh report
A rank of #3 makes University Of Miami one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Coral Gables, FL, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. Typical Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities student debt is $28,590. Get the full University Of Miami report
The strong Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities programs at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in Norman, OK. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $27,000. See the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus profile
Southern Methodist University came in at #5 on this year's Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities ranking in the United States. Set in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Southern Methodist University Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $20,712 in debt. See the full Southern Methodist University profile
University Of Iowa came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,269 to complete their Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program here. Get the full University Of Iowa report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $28,467 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Kansas landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. More on University Of Kansas
Regis University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Regis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Denver, CO. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. Graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. See the full Regis University profile
University Of Connecticut came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Get the full University Of Connecticut report
Texas Tech University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Set in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $28,713. Get the full Texas Tech University report
St Johns College Maryland did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Annapolis, MD, St Johns College Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. St Johns College Maryland posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,684. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program here. More on St Johns College Maryland
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities student debt is $25,898. See the full University Of North Carolina At Greensboro profile
Indiana University Southeast landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Indiana University Southeast is a public school based in New Albany, IN. About 39% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Indiana University Southeast Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $28,948 in debt. See the full Indiana University Southeast profile
University Of Denver placed #15 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. University Of Denver posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $22,534. See the full University Of Denver profile
University Of Memphis placed #16 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Set in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. University Of Memphis posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $38,972 to complete their Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program here. More on University Of Memphis
Portland State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Set in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $30,250. See the full Portland State University profile
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #18 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Located in Carson, CA, California State University Dominguez Hills is a public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. California State University Dominguez Hills Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $15,453 in debt. Read more about California State University Dominguez Hills
California State University Los Angeles landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $15,171 to complete their Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program here. Get the full California State University Los Angeles report
Albany Technical College placed #20 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Read more about Albany Technical College
Central Christian College Of Kansas did well this year, earning the #21 position. More on Central Christian College Of Kansas
Hilbert College
Hilbert College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Get the full Hilbert College report
Houghton College
Houghton College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Read the full report on Houghton College
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Manchester Community College Nh landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on Manchester Community College Nh
Rest of the Top 50 Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Manhattan College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full Manhattan College report
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Owensboro Community And Technical College placed #28 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Read the full report on Owensboro Community And Technical College
Butler County Community College landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full Butler County Community College profile
Central Community College did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Central Community College report
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College profile
Drexel University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Drexel University profile
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #33 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Read more about Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Michigan State University placed #34 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. More on Michigan State University
Minnesota State Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on Minnesota State Community And Technical College
North Central Texas College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Get the full North Central Texas College report
North Dakota State College Of Science came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on North Dakota State College Of Science
Northland Pioneer College placed #38 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. More on Northland Pioneer College
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Read more about San Joaquin Delta College
Syracuse University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. See the full Syracuse University profile
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff report
University Of New Mexico Main Campus did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Wake Forest University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read more about Wake Forest University
Colby Sawyer College did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Colby Sawyer College profile
Eastern Arizona College placed #45 among Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. More on Eastern Arizona College
Houston Baptist University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. See the full Houston Baptist University profile
Mesalands Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. More on Mesalands Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College did well this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Mohawk Valley Community College profile
Rice University
Rice University did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Rice University
Southside Virginia Community College landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. More on Southside Virginia Community College
Related Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Schools (All Levels)
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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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