36 Best Private Professional Liberal Arts & General Studies Universities in the USA

Compare 103 programs at 36 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

Programs 103 Universities 36 Scholarships 0

36 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, Missouri · Private University · Est. 1853

US #1 QS World #123 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $21,786/yr
Admission rate: 12%
Earnings (10yr): $86,182
Students: 7,857

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Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1852

US #9 QS World #251 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $39,998/yr
Admission rate: 11%
Earnings (10yr): $83,214
Students: 7,061

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Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1891

US #25 QS World #601 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $38,509/yr
Admission rate: 79%
Earnings (10yr): $84,648
Students: 13,233

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Lehigh University

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1865

US #29 QS World #601 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $36,931/yr
Admission rate: 26%
Earnings (10yr): $105,584
Students: 5,898

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Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York · Private University · Est. 1870

US #30 QS World #611 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $38,793/yr
Admission rate: 46%
Earnings (10yr): $79,164
Students: 15,477

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University of Denver

Denver, Colorado · Private University · Est. 1864

US #35 QS World #701 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $36,131/yr
Admission rate: 78%
Earnings (10yr): $71,155
Students: 6,025

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Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee · Private University · Est. 1892

US #43 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $24,345/yr
Admission rate: 66%
Earnings (10yr): $53,723
Students: 2,773

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University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1740

US #56 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $28,699/yr
Admission rate: 5%
Earnings (10yr): $111,371
Students: 10,650

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Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York · Private University · Est. 1754

US #58 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $21,590/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $102,491
Students: 8,973

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Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1851

US #60 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $29,167/yr
Admission rate: 8%
Earnings (10yr): $89,363
Students: 9,201

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Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1636

US #74 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $19,066/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $101,817
Students: 7,601

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Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland · Private University · Est. 1876

US #93 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $18,809/yr
Admission rate: 6%
Earnings (10yr): $87,555
Students: 5,693

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Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1842

US #105 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $43,756/yr
Admission rate: 27%
Earnings (10yr): $100,423
Students: 6,938

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University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1890

US #114 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $14,860/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $91,885
Students: 7,569

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Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana · Private University · Est. 1859

US #150 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $18,578/yr
Admission rate: 89%
Earnings (10yr): $63,191
Students: 2,083

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DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1898

US #180 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $30,902/yr
Admission rate: 76%
Earnings (10yr): $68,751
Students: 14,090

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Widener University

Chester, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1821

US #190 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $25,759/yr
Admission rate: 71%
Earnings (10yr): $70,920
Students: 2,951

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Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas · Private University · Est. 1911

US #204 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $40,892/yr
Admission rate: 63%
Earnings (10yr): $78,354
Students: 7,277

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Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1933

US #223 ROI C Admissions open

Net price: $27,743/yr
Admission rate: 91%
Earnings (10yr): $63,454
Students: 1,985

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Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private University · Est. 1789

US #248 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $40,815/yr
Admission rate: 13%
Earnings (10yr): $103,494
Students: 7,569

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University of Mount Union

Alliance, Ohio · Private University · Est. 1846

US #273 ROI D Admissions open

Net price: $23,280/yr
Admission rate: 78%
Earnings (10yr): $53,217
Students: 1,995

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University of La Verne

La Verne, California · Private University · Est. 1891

US #357 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $20,161/yr
Admission rate: 71%
Earnings (10yr): $65,464
Students: 3,050

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Regis University

Denver, Colorado · Private University · Est. 1877

US #385 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $18,397/yr
Admission rate: 86%
Earnings (10yr): $72,105
Students: 2,627

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Roger Williams University

Bristol, Rhode Island · Private University · Est. 1956

US #386 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $37,999/yr
Admission rate: 88%
Earnings (10yr): $70,266
Students: 3,946

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What this subject pays

Graduates of Liberal Arts & General Studies programmes report a median $31,314 two years after finishing, across 593 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $25,500.

Liberal Arts & General Studies pay by degree level →

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Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for private Professional Liberal Arts & General Studies universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include Washington University in St Louis, Tufts University, Drexel University. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study private Professional Liberal Arts & General Studies universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying private Professional Liberal Arts & General Studies universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About private Professional Liberal Arts & General Studies universities in the USA

This page lists private Professional Liberal Arts & General Studies universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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