2026 Best Value Humanities Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Humanities Schools
Leading the list is San Diego Miramar College, our #1 best value for humanities in California. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $6,500. Humanities graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $31,804 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #2. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oxnard College earned it the #3 place for humanities. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Irvine Valley College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at San Diego Mesa College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $5,500. Humanities graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $33,015 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Canada College placed #6 among the best values for humanities. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Humanities graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Canada College generally make around $106,691. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #7 for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the humanities program here. Early-career humanities graduates make about $23,856. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
College Of The Canyons placed #8 among the best values for humanities. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $29,142. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Moorpark College landed the #9 spot for humanities value this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Humanities graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College earned the #10 position for value in humanities this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $18,208 early in their careers. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grossmont College landed the #11 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Ventura College earned the #12 position for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $20,250. Early-career humanities graduates make about $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College landed the #13 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College landed the #15 spot for humanities value this year. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. In-state tuition and fees average $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $14,308. Early-career humanities graduates make about $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego City College placed #16 among the best values for humanities. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,434 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of San Diego City College earn a median of $29,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,434 median debt.
Reedley College earned the #17 position for value in humanities this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Imperial Valley College earned the #18 position for value in humanities this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Norco College earned the #19 position for value in humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $8,203. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moreno Valley College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $24,046. That is a strong return on a $11,167 median debt.
Saddleback College earned the #21 position for value in humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $18,207 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Gavilan College came in at #23 for value in humanities this year. Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Gilroy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,508, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Gavilan College earn a median of $28,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,939 median debt.
Folsom Lake College placed #24 among the best values for humanities. Folsom Lake College is a large public school located in the city of Folsom. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,568.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #25 position for value in humanities this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $15,453. Early-career humanities graduates make about $52,683. That is a strong return on a $15,453 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Humanities Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in humanities:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 130 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
