Liberal Arts and Humanities: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Liberal Arts and Humanities offers a broad, interdisciplinary foundation designed to cultivate critical thinking, effective communication, and a deep understanding of human culture and society. This program emphasizes intellectual exploration across diverse fields, preparing students for advanced study or careers that demand analytical reasoning, creativity, and cultural awareness.
- Philosophy: The study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, and reason, fostering logical analysis and ethical reflection.
- History: An in-depth examination of past events, societies, and civilizations, enabling students to interpret change over time and understand contemporary global contexts.
- Literature: Close reading and critical analysis of literary works across genres and periods, enhancing interpretive skills and appreciation for narrative and language.
- Religious Studies: Academic exploration of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, promoting cross-cultural understanding and comparative analysis.
- Art and Music: Study of visual and performing arts, including historical development, aesthetic principles, and cultural significance.
- Language and Linguistics: Investigation of language structure, evolution, and usage, supporting communication skills and cultural literacy.
- Classical Studies: Examination of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, including their languages, literature, history, and enduring influence on modern thought.
- Interdisciplinary Humanities: Integrated approaches that combine multiple fields to explore complex human experiences and societal themes.
Liberal Arts and Humanities Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Liberal Arts and Humanities Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Liberal Arts and Humanities degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Liberal Arts and Humanities by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Liberal Arts and Humanities programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Liberal Arts and Humanities is found at Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (7,556 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (5,824 graduates), University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) (2,577 graduates), Chattahoochee Technical College (1,819 graduates), and University of Southern Indiana (USI) (1,329 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 41,027 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7,556 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5,824 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
2,577 | Adelphi, Maryland | Public | umgc.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Other Award
|
1,819 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1,329 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Kent State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
1,206 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
1,082 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
1,032 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
994 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
794 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Associate's
|
715 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
697 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
695 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Other Award
|
642 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
508 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) |
Associate's
|
465 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | otc.edu |
| Germanna Community College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
462 | Locust Grove, Virginia | Public | germanna.edu |
| Prince George's Community College (PGCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
454 | Largo, Maryland | Public | pgcc.edu |
| Laurel Ridge Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
451 | Middletown, Virginia | Public | laurelridge.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Associate's
|
404 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
376 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | reynolds.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Associate's
|
374 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| College of Southern Maryland (CSM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
338 | La Plata, Maryland | Public | csmd.edu |
| Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
299 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Public | centralvirginia.edu |
| East Central Community College (ECCC) |
Associate's
|
284 | Decatur, Mississippi | Public | eccc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
271 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
|
230 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Harford Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
224 | Bel Air, Maryland | Public | harford.edu |
| Rappahannock Community College (RCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
215 | Glenns, Virginia | Public | rappahannock.edu |
| Oakland Community College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
214 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | Public | oaklandcc.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Associate's
|
211 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| Meridian Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
206 | Meridian, Mississippi | Public | meridiancc.edu |
| West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
196 | Waco, Georgia | Public | westgatech.edu |
| Brightpoint Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
194 | Chester, Virginia | Public | brightpoint.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
|
192 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) |
Other Award
|
185 | Thomasville, Georgia | Public | southernregional.edu |
| Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
178 | Albany, Oregon | Public | linnbenton.edu |
| Craven Community College |
Associate's
|
176 | New Bern, North Carolina | Public | cravencc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Associate's
|
175 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
174 | Weyers Cave, Virginia | Public | brcc.edu |
| Southeastern Technical College (STC) |
Other Award
|
169 | Vidalia, Georgia | Public | southeasterntech.edu |
| Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
165 | Roanoke, Virginia | Public | virginiawestern.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
162 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| Bristol Community College |
Associate's
|
162 | Fall River, Massachusetts | Public | bristolcc.edu |
| Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
159 | Alberta, Virginia | Public | southside.edu |
| Frederick Community College (FCC) |
Associate's
|
156 | Frederick, Maryland | Public | frederick.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Associate's
Other Award
|
149 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Associate's
|
147 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Pitt Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
146 | Winterville, North Carolina | Public | pittcc.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
|
146 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Cumberland University (CU) |
Associate's
|
145 | Lebanon, Tennessee | Private | cumberland.edu |
| Itawamba Community College (ICC) |
Associate's
|
141 | Fulton, Mississippi | Public | iccms.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
140 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) |
Associate's
|
139 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | pikespeak.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
139 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Bachelor's
|
134 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Associate's
|
133 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
133 | Hampton, Virginia | Public | vpcc.edu |
| Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) |
Associate's
|
132 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | mybrcc.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
127 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
121 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
120 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
117 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Associate's
|
114 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
114 | Big Stone Gap, Virginia | Public | mecc.edu |
| Kent State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
111 | Warren, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Kent State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
111 | Burton, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Southeastern Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
107 | Whiteville, North Carolina | Public | sccnc.edu |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
104 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | wiregrass.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
103 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
102 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Suffolk County Community College (SUNY) |
Associate's
|
101 | Selden, New York | Public | sunysuffolk.edu |
| Reach University |
Bachelor's
|
101 | Oakland, California | Private | reach.edu |
| Adams State University |
Associate's
|
98 | Alamosa, Colorado | Public | adams.edu |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC) |
Other Award
|
97 | Sandersville, Georgia | Public | oftc.edu |
| Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
94 | Martinsville, Virginia | Public | patrickhenry.edu |
| Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) |
Associate's
|
93 | Washington, North Carolina | Public | beaufortccc.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVUP) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
93 | Parkersburg, West Virginia | Public | wvup.edu |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
92 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | pvcc.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
90 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| North Shore Community College (NSCC) |
Associate's
|
90 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Public | northshore.edu |
| Indiana University (IUK) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
89 | Kokomo, Indiana | Public | iuk.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
87 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
|
85 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) |
Associate's
|
85 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | cfcc.edu |
| Hagerstown Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
84 | Hagerstown, Maryland | Public | hagerstowncc.edu |
| Wytheville Community College (WCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
84 | Wytheville, Virginia | Public | wcc.vccs.edu |
| Kent State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
83 | New Philadelphia, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
82 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
80 | Cumberland, Maryland | Public | allegany.edu |
| Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) |
Other Award
|
80 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | ogeecheetech.edu |
| Community College of Aurora (CCA) |
Associate's
|
79 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | ccaurora.edu |
| Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
78 | Clifton Forge, Virginia | Public | mgcc.edu |
| Savannah Technical College |
Other Award
|
76 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahtech.edu |
| Wor-Wic Community College |
Associate's
|
75 | Salisbury, Maryland | Public | worwic.edu |
| Northwest Indian College (NWIC) |
Associate's
|
75 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | nwic.edu |
| Lake Michigan College (LMC) |
Associate's
|
74 | Benton Harbor, Michigan | Public | lakemichigancollege.edu |
| Great Falls College Montana State University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
74 | Great Falls, Montana | Public | gfcmsu.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Associate's
|
72 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Liberal Arts and Humanities programs
Which universities have the largest Liberal Arts and Humanities programs?
Currently 379 accredited institutions offer Liberal Arts and Humanities degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (7,556 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (5,824 graduates), and University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) (2,577 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Liberal Arts and Humanities growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 17,451 in 2010 to 45,889 in 2023-24. This represents a 163% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
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