by our College Data Analytics Team
[Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for humanities students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in humanities, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $15,729. Early-career humanities graduates make about $36,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Snow College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in humanities, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $21,687. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $7,313 to complete the humanities program here. Early-career humanities graduates make about $35,804. That is a strong return on a $7,313 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #4. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,289 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $25,104 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #5 place for humanities. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,288 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
North Idaho College landed the #6 spot for humanities value this year. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,396, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Humanities graduates carry a median of $10,114 in student loans. Humanities graduates of North Idaho College earn a median of $27,940 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Adams State College placed #7 among the best values for humanities. Adams State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alamosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,824, with out-of-state students paying around $21,944. Humanities graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Adams State College earn a median of $48,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #8 position for value in humanities this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $54,507 early in their careers. Set against $12,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
The University Of Montana ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value humanities schools. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the humanities program here. Early-career humanities graduates make about $42,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
Boise State University came in at #10 for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,894 to complete the humanities program here. Early-career humanities graduates make about $40,886. That is a strong return on a $15,894 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #11 for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $20,373. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Denver placed #12 among the best values for humanities. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $22,534. 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. The acceptance rate is 78%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.