Best Online Liberal Arts Degrees

A liberal arts degree relies on a well-rounded, integrative approach to learning. In this program, you’ll study a variety of subjects spanning the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and arts.

The best liberal arts degrees encourage you to think critically, communicate effectively, and creatively problem-solve. And an online liberal arts degree can give you additional flexibility and program options.

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If you have many interests or want a broader course of academic study, a liberal arts degree — also called liberal studies — can be a great choice.

Liberal arts majors study art, the social sciences, the humanities, the natural sciences, and math. You can earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in liberal studies, depending on the school.

Many four-year universities offer liberal arts degrees. You can also attend a liberal arts college. At this type of school, all students take classes in a broad array of liberal arts subjects. Typically, you must declare a liberal arts major as well, like English or sociology.

Many schools use the terms “liberal arts” and “liberal studies” interchangeably. At some schools, however, liberal studies focuses more on comparing and contrasting the different liberal arts subjects.

Many colleges offer liberal arts majors, either in liberal arts itself or in one of the many liberal arts subjects, from art history to psychology.

Here are some of the most popular liberal arts degrees you can get:

When a school is accredited, it means an independent accrediting agency has certified that it is academically rigorous and meets certain quality standards.

A college needs accreditation to be able to offer federal financial aid to students. Additionally, accreditation ensures your degree will be recognized by employers and other institutions should you transfer or attend graduate school.

Some academic programs may be programmatically accredited. Although there are no programmatic accreditors of liberal studies degrees, specific majors within the liberal arts may have programmatic accreditation.

For example, journalism majors should apply to programs accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Liberal arts degrees are versatile. You’ll graduate with a broad wealth of knowledge and many of the soft skills employers seek in candidates.

Because liberal arts degrees emphasize critical thinking and creativity, students who complete a liberal arts program will be prepared to work in various roles and industries.

Source: BLS

Although both liberal arts colleges and universities can offer similar majors and programs, liberal arts colleges more strongly emphasize a liberal arts foundation through required liberal arts coursework. Liberal arts colleges also tend to have smaller enrollments and class sizes than universities.

The skills that liberal arts majors develop and hone in their education, like the ability to think critically and consider various perspectives, are in demand. In a 2014 study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 93% of employers agreed that critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills are more important than the applicant’s college major.

The best liberal arts degree for you will depend on your interests, strengths, and career goals. If you’re concerned about making money, for example, you may want to choose a liberal arts major that tends to lead to higher-paying jobs, like psychology, math, or biology.

Many of the highest-paying jobs for liberal arts majors are in management and technology. According to the BLS, some of the highest-paying jobs for those with a bachelor’s in liberal arts include:

A bachelor’s in liberal arts can be a great investment if you want a well-rounded, interdisciplinary, and flexible education. Liberal arts majors get to study many subjects while developing in-demand soft skills like critical thinking and communication.

A liberal studies degree can also set you up for long-term success. According to a Strada Institute report, liberal arts majors earn $20,000 more than high school graduates on average and experience rapid salary growth in their 30s and 40s.