by our College Data Analytics TeamStudents with a love of learning and a curiosity for many different subjects may choose to study in the field of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This field can be tailored to suit your specific interests. You will work with your advisors to determine the theme of your courses.
A major in this field will not prepare you specifically for one career path; rather the focus is on a broad, interdisciplinary education. Students will learn skills such as critical thinking, reading, and writing. Classes in history, English, math and science will give you a well-rounded education. Graduates will have transferrable skills they can bring to a variety of careers.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities was the 3rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 556,813 degrees in this year alone. This is approximately the same as the 559,661 graduates the prior year.
This year's Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools ranking compares 1033 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills for this major is to be an independent and self-motivated student. You will work with your advisor to create a graduation plan. You may be required to do an independent study under the guidance of a professor. Another important trait is a passion for learning. This should transfer to all your classes and will help you succeed. If you enjoy what you are doing, it will be much easier to complete the work accompanied with the class.
Your courses will likely contain a lot of reading and writing assignments; it's important to manage your time effectively so you can complete all your coursework. Many of these classes will be discussion based, allowing you to hear many different perspectives while also helping to develop your speaking and critical thinking skills.
This major gives you many skills employers desire: critical thinking, broad-based knowledge, and effective communication skills to name a few. However, students will have to take the initiative to discover a career path that interests them, gain experience and pursue a job in that field.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most liberal arts / sciences and humanities degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic liberal arts / sciences and humanities program qualifications, to serve in some liberal arts / sciences and humanities careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in liberal arts / sciences and humanities to the highest liberal arts / sciences and humanities degree, a . Depending on the liberal arts / sciences and humanities degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
There are a variety of career opportunities with a degree in liberal arts, general studies, or humanities. You will be prepared to work in fields such as advertising, marketing, editing, business, or even the government. However, you can also go to graduate school and further your degree in academia, business, law, or even medicine. Your skills can be transferred to many different areas because you spent your time as an undergraduate learning how to think, read, and write effectively.
Your job opportunities are endless so the salaries will range depending on what career path you pursue.
Want a job when you graduate with your liberal arts / sciences and humanities degree? Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities careers are expected to grow 9.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to liberal arts / sciences and humanities.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Professors | 258,700 | 9.4% |
Recently graduated liberal arts / sciences and humanities students earned an average of $28,357 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $4,992 to as high as $101,331. As you might expect, salaries for liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers liberal arts / sciences and humanities grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Professors | $76,990 |
With over 4,790 different liberal arts / sciences and humanities degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased liberal arts / sciences and humanities school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities that might interest you.
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| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts General Studies | 556,813 |
View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Related Majors >
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Visual & Performing Arts | 149,215 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Related Majors >
Image Credit: By Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803) under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
