CIP 24.0101 Liberal Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

中文

Total graduates

262,718

2025 · 1,413 schools

International share

2.6%

6,857 international students

Bachelor's degrees

20,250

2.5% international

Master's degrees

749

9.3% international

Overview

Liberal Arts and Sciences, often referred to as Liberal Studies, is an interdisciplinary academic program that emphasizes a well-rounded education, integrating various fields of study such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. The primary goal of this program is to cultivate critical thinking, effective communication, and analytical skills among students, preparing them for diverse career paths and informed citizenship.

Students pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences typically engage in a broad curriculum that includes subjects like philosophy, literature, history, psychology, sociology, and natural sciences. This diverse academic exposure encourages students to explore complex ideas, understand diverse perspectives, and develop a strong foundation in reasoning and ethical decision-making.

One of the key benefits of studying Liberal Arts is the flexibility it offers. Graduates are equipped with transferable skills that are applicable in various professions, including education, business, law, public policy, and the arts. This adaptability is increasingly valuable in a rapidly changing job market where employers seek individuals who can think critically and collaborate effectively.

Moreover, Liberal Arts education fosters a sense of social responsibility and cultural awareness, enabling students to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. Overall, a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences provides a comprehensive educational experience that empowers students to become lifelong learners and active participants in their communities.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

192K 02

200K 03

208K 04

217K 05

218K 06

224K 07

227K 08

233K 09

246K 10

257K 11

272K 12

267K 13

268K 14

270K 15

278K 16

281K 17

288K 18

294K 19

289K 20

289K 21

273K 22

252K 23

258K 24

263K 25

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 37% and the international share went from 2.6% to 2.6%.

International share (%)

3 02

3 03

3 04

3 05

2 06

2 07

2 08

3 09

2 10

2 11

2 12

2 13

2 14

2 15

2 16

2 17

3 18

3 19

3 20

3 21

2 22

2 23

2 24

3 25

Graduates by group, 2025

White

44.5%

Asian

5.4%

Hispanic

27.2%

Black

11.3%

Other

9.0%

Intl.

2.6%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 1,413 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

Rank	School	State	Graduates	International
#1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts	8	0
#3	Harvard University	Massachusetts	4	0
#5	Stanford University	California	9	0
#7	University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	40	25
#9	University of Chicago	Illinois	20	2
#9	Northwestern University	Illinois	3	0
#9	Johns Hopkins University	Maryland	43	1
#14	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania	37	6
#16	Washington University in St Louis	Missouri	1	0
#16	Vanderbilt University	Tennessee	3	0
#16	Rice University	Texas	7	1
#20	University of Notre Dame	Indiana	18	0
#23	Georgetown University	D.C.	43	4
#26	University of Virginia-Main Campus	Virginia	530	14
#27	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina	19	0
#31	Boston College	Massachusetts	11	0
#31	New York University	New York	658	84
#34	University of Florida	Florida	108	1
#34	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Illinois	1	0
#34	Wake Forest University	North Carolina	6	0
#34	The University of Texas at Austin	Texas	151	3
#42	Northeastern University	Massachusetts	6	0
#42	Villanova University	Pennsylvania	13	0
#49	University of Rochester	New York	3	0
#52	University of Georgia	Georgia	9	0
#55	Santa Clara University	California	4	0
#55	University of Miami	Florida	10	2
#55	The Pennsylvania State University	Pennsylvania	7	1
#59	Florida State University	Florida	130	3
#59	Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	3	0
#59	Stony Brook University	New York	27	1
#59	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Pennsylvania	32	3
#72	Syracuse University	New York	16	0
#73	Indiana University-Bloomington	Indiana	199	7
#73	Binghamton University	New York	1	0
#73	North Carolina State University at Raleigh	North Carolina	20	0
#80	University of California-Riverside	California	67	1
#80	Pepperdine University	California	15	1
#80	Drexel University	Pennsylvania	40	4
#85	University of Delaware	Delaware	25	1
#85	Southern Methodist University	Texas	30	4
#90	Yeshiva University	New York	6	0
#90	Texas Christian University	Texas	55	3
#95	University of Illinois at Chicago	Illinois	5	0
#95	Rutgers University--Camden	New Jersey	37	0
#95	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	6	0
#100	University of San Diego	California	10	0
#100	Florida International University	Florida	381	15
#100	University of South Florida-Main Campus	Florida	430	13
#100	University of Iowa	Iowa	203	3
#100	Elon University	North Carolina	3	0
#109	Loyola Marymount University	California	7	1
#109	University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	New Hampshire	3	0
#109	Temple University	Pennsylvania	18	0
#116	Iowa State University	Iowa	47	1
#116	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	Oklahoma	164	0
#121	Arizona State University-Tempe	Arizona	87	4
#121	University of Central Florida	Florida	536	10
#121	Illinois Institute of Technology	Illinois	6	2
#121	Loyola University Chicago	Illinois	32	1
#121	SUNY at Albany	New York	1	0
#121	University of South Carolina-Columbia	South Carolina	104	2
#121	George Mason University	Virginia	101	3
#133	Miami University-Oxford	Ohio	1	1
#133	University of Vermont	Vermont	4	0
#137	California State University--Long Beach	California	259	0
#137	San Diego State University	California	268	2
#137	San Jose State University	California	48	0
#137	St John's University (NY)	New York	15	0
#137	Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	7	0
#137	University of Scranton	Pennsylvania	28	0
#137	University of Houston	Texas	29	0
#137	James Madison University	Virginia	173	1
#148	California State University-Los Angeles	California	154	0
#148	Mercer University	Georgia	12	0
#148	University of Kansas	Kansas	102	2
#148	University of Kentucky	Kentucky	52	2
#148	University of Massachusetts-Lowell	Massachusetts	82	0
#156	The University of Alabama	Alabama	10	0
#156	California State University-Fullerton	California	142	0
#156	Quinnipiac University	Connecticut	5	0
#156	Florida A&M University	Florida	32	0
#156	University of St Thomas (MN)	Minnesota	72	0
#156	Montclair State University	New Jersey	39	0
#156	Seton Hall University	New Jersey	9	0
#156	CUNY--City College	New York	76	2
#156	Oregon State University	Oregon	32	0
#156	Duquesne University	Pennsylvania	4	1
#169	Colorado State University-Fort Collins	Colorado	65	2
#169	Bradley University	Illinois	1	0
#169	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Nebraska	2	0
#169	Touro College	New York	150	1
#179	Gallaudet University	D.C.	2	1
#179	University of Louisville	Kentucky	29	1
#179	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	Ohio	12	1
#179	Seattle University	Washington	8	0
#186	California Lutheran University	California	19	0
#186	University of Hawaii at Manoa	Hawaii	91	4
#186	University of Detroit Mercy	Michigan	3	1
#186	Wayne State University	Michigan	6	0
#186	Texas Tech University	Texas	7	0
#191	Samford University	Alabama	4	0
#191	Florida Atlantic University	Florida	407	10
#191	Drake University	Iowa	1	0
#191	Rowan University	New Jersey	48	0
#191	Adelphi University	New York	46	1
#191	Hofstra University	New York	3	1
#191	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	Oklahoma	27	0
#202	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	Louisiana	18	0
#202	East Carolina University	North Carolina	212	0
#202	Ohio University-Main Campus	Ohio	102	1
#202	University of St. Thomas (TX)	Texas	9	1
#208	California State University--Fresno	California	486	0
#208	California State University-Sacramento	California	109	0
#208	University of La Verne	California	2	0
#208	Mississippi State University	Mississippi	2	0
#208	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	North Carolina	13	0
#208	Xavier University	Ohio	44	1
#208	Belmont University	Tennessee	19	0
#219	Illinois State University	Illinois	122	1
#219	Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis	Indiana	1	0
#219	North Carolina A&T State University	North Carolina	176	2
#219	University of North Carolina--Wilmington	North Carolina	2	0
#219	Gannon University	Pennsylvania	5	0
#227	San Francisco State University	California	34	0
#227	Ball State University	Indiana	190	3
#227	University of Michigan-Dearborn	Michigan	19	0
#227	The New School	New York	76	13
#227	Russell Sage College	New York	2	0
#227	West Chester University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	109	0
#227	West Virginia University	West Virginia	5	0
#236	University of North Florida	Florida	297	1
#236	Bethel University	Minnesota	32	0
#236	University of New Mexico-Main Campus	New Mexico	156	5
#236	Portland State University	Oregon	146	2
#250	University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth	Massachusetts	16	0
#250	University of Missouri--Kansas City	Missouri	110	3
#250	New Mexico State University-Main Campus	New Mexico	141	3
#250	D'Youville University	New York	168	24
#250	Pace University-New York	New York	18	0
#250	La Salle University	Pennsylvania	29	1
#262	University of Maine	Maine	40	1
#262	Western New England University	Massachusetts	1	0
#262	Seattle Pacific University	Washington	23	0
#276	Northern Arizona University	Arizona	243	0
#276	California Baptist University	California	30	1
#276	Regis University	Colorado	11	0
#276	University of St. Francis	Illinois	4	0
#276	Marian University (IN)	Indiana	13	0
#276	University of Missouri--St. Louis	Missouri	71	1
#276	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus	Ohio	31	1
#276	Widener University	Pennsylvania	11	0
#288	University of Hartford	Connecticut	59	0
#288	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Illinois	67	1
#288	University of Indianapolis	Indiana	28	2
#288	Wichita State University	Kansas	215	3
#288	University of Memphis	Tennessee	64	2
#288	Utah State University	Utah	5	0
#288	Shenandoah University	Virginia	2	0
#299	Azusa Pacific University	California	21	1
#299	Southern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	121	0
#299	Boise State University	Idaho	218	0
#299	Utica University	New York	5	0
#299	University of Toledo	Ohio	125	1
#308	Northern Illinois University	Illinois	89	1
#308	Oakland University	Michigan	5	0
#308	University of Southern Mississippi	Mississippi	74	3
#308	Maryville University of Saint Louis	Missouri	5	0
#308	Montana State University	Montana	55	0
#308	North Carolina Central University	North Carolina	27	0
#308	Wilkes University	Pennsylvania	46	0
#308	Abilene Christian University	Texas	27	1
#308	University of the Incarnate Word	Texas	11	0
#317	Morgan State University	Maryland	98	1
#317	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus	Pennsylvania	34	1
#328	Georgia Southern University	Georgia	59	0
#328	East Tennessee State University	Tennessee	79	1
#332	Mercy University	New York	10	0
#332	Point Park University	Pennsylvania	2	0
#342	Concordia University -- Irvine	California	18	1
#342	University of Northern Colorado	Colorado	10	0
#342	Missouri State University	Missouri	59	1
#342	Daemen University	New York	79	1
#342	University of Akron	Ohio	185	1
#342	Cleveland State University	Ohio	4	0
#353	Jacksonville State University	Alabama	128	3
#353	Arkansas State University	Arkansas	951	52
#353	Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville	Illinois	12	0
#353	Youngstown State University	Ohio	95	0
#353	Pennsylvania Western University	Pennsylvania	26	0
#365	Indiana State University	Indiana	55	0
#365	Northern Kentucky University	Kentucky	145	0
#365	Liberty University	Virginia	2	0
#376	University of Arkansas--Little Rock	Arkansas	23	0
#376	University of Bridgeport	Connecticut	2	0
#376	Tennessee State University	Tennessee	10	0
#382	University of Alaska Fairbanks	Alaska	97	0
#382	National University	California	83	0
#382	Wilmington University	Delaware	77	3
#382	Saint Leo University	Florida	115	2
#382	Southeastern University	Florida	13	0
#382	Columbus State University	Georgia	11	0
#382	Valdosta State University	Georgia	23	0
#382	Idaho State University	Idaho	6	0
#382	Chicago State University	Illinois	31	2
#382	Governors State University	Illinois	59	0
#382	University of Southern Maine	Maine	12	0
#382	Dallas Baptist University	Texas	7	0
#382	East Texas A&M University	Texas	16	0
#382	Houston Christian University	Texas	3	0
#382	Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico--Arecibo	Puerto Rico	7	0
#382	Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce	Puerto Rico	45	0
LAC #14	Wesleyan University	Connecticut	25	0
LAC #19	Middlebury College	Vermont	6	0
LAC #21	University of Richmond	Virginia	29	2
LAC #31	Denison University	Ohio	1	0
LAC #41	Skidmore College	New York	2	0
LAC #41	Soka University of America	California	122	60
LAC #44	Union College	New York	41	3
LAC #49	St. Olaf College	Minnesota	12	2
LAC #60	Hobart and William Smith Colleges	New York	4	0
LAC #60	Reed College	Oregon	2	0
LAC #62	Lake Forest College	Illinois	7	1
LAC #68	Thomas Aquinas College	California	119	10
LAC #72	Bard College	New York	173	3
LAC #81	St. John's College (MD)	Maryland	157	26
LAC #83	Earlham College	Indiana	2	0
LAC #85	Knox College	Illinois	2	0
LAC #100	Whittier College	California	10	1
LAC #100	University of Puget Sound	Washington	9	0
LAC #106	Transylvania University	Kentucky	2	0
LAC #109	Westmont College	California	16	1
LAC #111	Saint Vincent College	Pennsylvania	2	0
LAC #111	Patrick Henry College	Virginia	5	0
LAC #119	California State University-Channel Islands	California	93	0
LAC #125	Sarah Lawrence College	New York	354	26
LAC #128	SUNY at Purchase College	New York	23	0
LAC #128	University of Mary Washington	Virginia	11	0
LAC #132	College of the Atlantic	Maine	90	22
LAC #132	Saint Norbert College	Wisconsin	5	0
LAC #132	New Saint Andrews College	Idaho	73	0
LAC #138	Truman State University	Missouri	11	1
LAC #140	Alcorn State University	Mississippi	53	1
LAC #142	Eastern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	11	0
LAC #142	Houghton University	New York	4	0
LAC #146	Oglethorpe University	Georgia	2	0
LAC #150	New College of Florida	Florida	22	0
LAC #154	SUNY Old Westbury	New York	4	0
LAC #154	University of North Carolina Asheville	North Carolina	17	2
LAC #154	St. John's College (NM)	New Mexico	119	16
LAC #158	Bryn Athyn College of the New Church	Pennsylvania	3	0
LAC #160	Wittenberg University	Ohio	1	0
LAC #160	University of Virginia's College at Wise	Virginia	77	1
LAC #165	Bridgewater College	Virginia	22	0
LAC #166	Fort Valley State University	Georgia	15	0
LAC #168	Cottey College	Missouri	9	1
LAC #170	The Evergreen State College	Washington	381	1
LAC #172	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	Wisconsin	85	0
LAC #175	Mitchell College	Connecticut	8	0
LAC #176	Virginia Wesleyan University	Virginia	5	0
LAC #181	Bethune-Cookman University	Florida	78	0
LAC #184	Williams Baptist University	Arkansas	25	2
LAC #184	College of Coastal Georgia	Georgia	268	4
LAC #184	Holy Cross College	Indiana	14	0
LAC #184	Indiana University-Southeast	Indiana	15	0
LAC #184	Harris-Stowe State University	Missouri	27	3
LAC #184	CUNY Medgar Evers College	New York	69	0
LAC #184	Cheyney University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	3	0
LAC #184	Southern Virginia University	Virginia	4	0
LAC #184	Glenville State University	West Virginia	153	3
LAC #184	Providence Christian College	California	41	1
—	Lone Star College System	Texas	7,245	281
—	Miami Dade College	Florida	7,027	658
—	Valencia College	Florida	6,441	528
—	Broward College	Florida	3,706	444
—	Hillsborough College	Florida	2,726	66
—	Tallahassee State College	Florida	2,489	50
—	St Petersburg College	Florida	2,361	32
—	Pasco-Hernando State College	Florida	2,295	0
—	Palm Beach State College	Florida	2,290	70
—	Santa Fe College	Florida	2,232	90
—	Bakersfield College	California	2,209	5
—	Georgia State University-Perimeter College	Georgia	1,948	146
—	Central Piedmont Community College	North Carolina	1,869	60
—	Indian River State College	Florida	1,826	35
—	Eastern Florida State College	Florida	1,748	25
—	Seminole State College of Florida	Florida	1,701	44
—	El Paso Community College	Texas	1,661	14
—	Wake Technical Community College	North Carolina	1,633	49
—	Florida State College at Jacksonville	Florida	1,619	77
—	Florida SouthWestern State College	Florida	1,608	53
—	Santa Monica College	California	1,583	168
—	Bergen Community College	New Jersey	1,570	88
—	Johnson County Community College	Kansas	1,492	34
—	Saddleback College	California	1,474	13
—	Collin County Community College District	Texas	1,473	43
—	Los Angeles Pierce College	California	1,428	25
—	Daytona State College	Florida	1,359	8
—	Cerritos College	California	1,316	2
—	Saint Louis Community College	Missouri	1,309	26
—	Pierce College District	Washington	1,305	44