2027 Best Value Humanities Master’s Degree Schools
[Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/humanities/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value humanities schools.
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2027 Best Value Humanities Schools in the United States
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
For return on investment in humanities, no school beat California State University Northridge this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $15,000. Early-career humanities graduates make about $42,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes American Public University System one of the best values for humanities. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $6,195. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $50,920. Set against $6,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego State University earned it the #3 place for humanities. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,496 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $23,190. That is a strong return on a $12,496 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at University Of Chicago, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the humanities program here. Early-career humanities graduates make about $26,094. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $64,717. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Clear Lake placed #6 among the best values for humanities. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $21,100. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $51,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arizona State University came in at #7 for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Stony Brook University landed the #8 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $20,537. Early-career humanities graduates make about $60,047. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University placed #9 among the best values for humanities. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $13,426. Early-career humanities graduates make about $45,147. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #10 among the best values for humanities. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,235 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,185 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $17,921. Humanities graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Set against $17,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dallas landed the #11 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,930. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $23,411. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Dallas generally make around $58,396. Set against $23,411 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dallas admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot for humanities value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Duke University landed the #13 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $13,296. Early-career humanities graduates make about $83,388. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Tiffin University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value humanities schools. Located in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,977 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Tiffin University generally make around $37,484. That is a strong return on a $30,977 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Richmond came in at #15 for value in humanities this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $65,230. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Set against $21,634 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
University Of Denver placed #16 among the best values for humanities. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Humanities graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $56,999. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Pacifica Graduate Institute placed #17 among the best values for humanities. Set in the rural area of Santa Barbara CA, Pacifica Graduate Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Pacifica Graduate Institute generally make around $41,442.
New York University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value humanities schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Humanities graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from New York University generally make around $40,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Georgetown University landed the #19 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $66,719. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University placed #20 among the best values for humanities. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Humanities graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $70,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Other Humanities Degree Levels
Explore the best-value humanities schools at other degree levels:
View All Humanities Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
