2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $30-$48k)
816
Ranked Colleges
366,996
Degrees Awarded
$4,500
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
With 366,996 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts is the 2nd most popular major in the United States.
For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 816 colleges that offer 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $30-$48k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also made our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $4,777 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UChicago.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Full UChicago Liberal Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UPenn is $1,938 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full UPenn Liberal Arts Report
Out of the 816 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #3 spot on the list. Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It costs about $4,859 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Johns Hopkins University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Johns Hopkins
Out of the 816 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgetown University landed the #4 spot on the list. Georgetown is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Georgetown has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Georgetown University is $9,871 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Full Georgetown University Liberal Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wesleyan University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Wesleyan U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Middletown, Connecticut. It awarded 31 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Wesleyan U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Wesleyan U is $7,475 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Wesleyan U Liberal Arts Report
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. CNM is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,357 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CNM excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central New Mexico Community College is $3,059 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts at CNM
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 453 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USF Tampa, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $5,632 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at University of South Florida - Main Campus
Golden West College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Golden West College is a public institution located in Huntington Beach, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,237 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Golden West College excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $4,414 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Golden West College
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,448 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
Harold Washington College excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It costs about $3,200 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Harold Washington College.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Harold Washington College
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,729 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNC Chapel Hill.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Liberal Arts Report
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 225 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $7,061 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at IU Bloomington
Oakland Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 410 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Oakland Community College is in the top 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 Oakland Community College is $2,762 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts Report
South Texas College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 460 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,783 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full South Texas College Liberal Arts Report
Metropolitan Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Metropolitan Community College is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 353 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC also claimed a top spot 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 $3,257 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.
Full Metropolitan Community College Liberal Arts Report
Ventura College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ventura College is a fairly large public school situated in Ventura, California. It awarded 1,796 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,269 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ventura College.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Ventura College
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $2,701 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State LA.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Cal State LA Liberal Arts Report
Indian River State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, and it awarded 1,841 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,595 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indian River State College.
Full Indian River State College Liberal Arts Report
North Carolina State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 27 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, NC State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $9,448 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 NC State
Suffolk County Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Selden, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Suffolk County Community College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Suffolk County Community College is $4,212 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Suffolk County Community College
MiraCosta College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. MiraCosta College is a fairly large public school situated in Oceanside, California. It awarded 1,732 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,861 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MiraCosta College.
Full MiraCosta College Liberal Arts Report
West Valley College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. West Valley College is located in Saratoga, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 678 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
West Valley College 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 West Valley College is $3,654 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at West Valley College
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 148 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUDH 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. It costs about $3,329 for liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSUDH.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 California State University - Dominguez Hills
Palm Beach State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Lake Worth, Florida, this large public school awarded 4,062 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Palm Beach State College is in the top 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 Palm Beach State College is $9,727 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Palm Beach State College Liberal Arts Report
College of Lake County did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Grayslake, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 1,446 students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, College of Lake County 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 estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,248 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full College of Lake County Liberal Arts Report
With a ranking of #25, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Moraine Valley Community College is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 711 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend MVCC is $896 for Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts Report
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