2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools
835
Ranked Colleges
366,996
Degrees Awarded
$7,900
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 366,996 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools” ranking analyzed 835 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools
The colleges and universities below are the best for liberal studies students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central New Mexico Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 2,357 students in 2020-2021.
CNM excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $3,322 for Liberal Studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Central New Mexico Community College
Out of the 835 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Thomas Edison State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Trenton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 557 students in 2020-2021.
TESU excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at TESU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Texas College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools. Central Texas College is located in Killeen, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 345 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Central Texas College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Central Texas College is $5,196 for liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Central Texas College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 353 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, MCC also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,315 for Liberal Studies students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full MCC Liberal Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Collin County Community College District. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. This large school is located in McKinney, Texas, and it awarded 1,979 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Collin County Community College District excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $7,040 for liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Collin County Community College District
McLennan Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. This medium-sized school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 764 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend MCC is $6,849 for liberal studies students.
Full McLennan Community College Liberal Arts Report
Excelsior College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #7. Excelsior College is located in Albany, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,877 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Excelsior College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Excelsior College
Cleveland Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. Shelby, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 196 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $-141 for liberal studies students per year to attend Cleveland Community College. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Cleveland Community College
Macomb Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 173 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Macomb Community College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macomb Community College is $9,982 for Liberal Studies students.
Full Macomb Community College Liberal Arts Report
Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #10. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 410 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Oakland Community College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $3,665 for Liberal Studies students.
Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts Report
Chesapeake College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking. Chesapeake College is a small public school situated in Wye Mills, Maryland. It awarded 60 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Chesapeake College is $4,118 for Liberal Studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Chesapeake College
Columbia College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #12. Columbia College is a medium-sized school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 65 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Columbia College Missouri is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $26,668 for liberal studies students per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Columbia College
Dakota College at Bottineau landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking. MSU-Bottineau is a public institution located in Bottineau, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 74 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU-Bottineau excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Dakota College at Bottineau is $10,490 for Liberal Studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Dakota College at Bottineau
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 356 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Ivy Tech Community College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It costs about $7,669 for liberal studies students per year to attend Ivy Tech Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Ivy Tech Community College
With a ranking of #15, Johnson County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. This fairly large school is located in Overland Park, Kansas, and it awarded 1,257 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, JCCC also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Johnson County Community College is $13,371 for Liberal Studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Johnson County Community College
Central Arizona College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. Central Arizona College is a public institution located in Coolidge, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 574 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Central Arizona College is $5,804 for Liberal Studies students.
Full Pinal County Community College Liberal Arts Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #16. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 94 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Green Bay is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $13,092 for liberal studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Elgin Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. ECC is located in Elgin, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 931 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
ECC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for ECC is $3,828 for Liberal Studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at ECC
Charter Oak State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #19. Charter Oak State College is a small public school situated in New Britain, Connecticut. It awarded 222 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Charter Oak State College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $11,872 for liberal studies students per year to attend Charter Oak State College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Charter Oak State College
Georgia State University-Perimeter College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #20. Georgia State University-Perimeter College is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,419 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Georgia State University-Perimeter College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia State University-Perimeter College is $9,316 for liberal studies students.
Full Georgia State University-Perimeter College Liberal Arts Report
Otero Junior College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #21. Otero JC is a small public school situated in La Junta, Colorado. It awarded 62 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Otero Junior College is $10,221 for Liberal Studies students.
Full Otero Junior College Liberal Arts Report
South Texas College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 460 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,504 for liberal studies students.
Full South Texas College Liberal Arts Report
Century College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 426 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Century College is $10,397 for Liberal Studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Century College
With a ranking of #24, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools list. Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 2,357 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $6,966 for liberal studies students per year to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City.
Read more about Liberal Arts at MCC
Garden City Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools ranking, coming in at #25. Garden City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 182 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Garden City Community College is $5,217 for Liberal Studies students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Garden City Community College
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