Best Liberal Arts Colleges by Salary Potential

Love the arts and humanities, but afraid you won’t get a high-paying career? Learn more about liberal arts schools with the highest-paid graduates.

Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:United States Naval AcademySchool Type:Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$94,200Mid-Career Pay:$181,500% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:53%
Rank:2School Name:Harvey Mudd CollegeSchool Type:Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$110,400Mid-Career Pay:$179,600% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:79%
Rank:3School Name:Colgate UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private School, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$84,100Mid-Career Pay:$173,800% High Meaning:42%% STEM Degrees:26%
Rank:4School Name:United States Military AcademySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$93,400Mid-Career Pay:$171,000% High Meaning:65%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:5School Name:Williams CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,900Mid-Career Pay:$169,200% High Meaning:38%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:6School Name:Claremont McKenna CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$86,700Mid-Career Pay:$167,000% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:22%
Rank:7School Name:United States Air Force AcademySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$88,900Mid-Career Pay:$166,100% High Meaning:63%% STEM Degrees:42%
Rank:8School Name:Washington and Lee UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$77,500Mid-Career Pay:$162,500% High Meaning:40%% STEM Degrees:17%
Rank:9School Name:Lafayette CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$82,700Mid-Career Pay:$158,700% High Meaning:39%% STEM Degrees:50%
Rank:10School Name:Bucknell UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private School, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$82,400Mid-Career Pay:$155,500% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:11School Name:Swarthmore CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,700Mid-Career Pay:$154,900% High Meaning:44%% STEM Degrees:41%
Rank:12School Name:Union College (New York)School Type:Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$78,500Mid-Career Pay:$153,300% High Meaning:41%% STEM Degrees:42%
Rank:13School Name:Bowdoin CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$75,800Mid-Career Pay:$152,900% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:33%
Rank:14School Name:Bates CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$71,100Mid-Career Pay:$150,500% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:27%
Rank:15School Name:Barnard CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$74,200Mid-Career Pay:$149,300% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:16School Name:Wesleyan UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$77,600Mid-Career Pay:$149,200% High Meaning:42%% STEM Degrees:20%
Rank:17School Name:Haverford CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$73,200Mid-Career Pay:$146,900% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:41%
Rank:18School Name:Virginia Military InstituteSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$78,200Mid-Career Pay:$145,300% High Meaning:65%% STEM Degrees:50%
Rank:19School Name:Gettysburg CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$72,000Mid-Career Pay:$145,200% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:20School Name:Franklin and Marshall CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$70,600Mid-Career Pay:$144,300% High Meaning:40%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:21School Name:Trinity CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$74,100Mid-Career Pay:$141,600% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:22%
Rank:22School Name:Carleton CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$72,100Mid-Career Pay:$141,500% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:45%
Rank:23School Name:Occidental CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$69,700Mid-Career Pay:$141,100% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:22%
Rank:24School Name:Wabash CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$74,200Mid-Career Pay:$140,900% High Meaning:34%% STEM Degrees:19%
Rank:25School Name:Denison UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$65,300Mid-Career Pay:$140,800% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:20%

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