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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

68 Ranked Colleges
5,583 Degrees Awarded
$12,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 365,980 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.

Across the Southeast region, there were 117,026 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,583 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 68 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 242 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USF Tampa is $8,355 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida International University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 368 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $7,296 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Florida International University.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Florida International University

#3

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Carolina State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

NC State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $16,458 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at North Carolina State University

#4

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#19 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Kentucky University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. Northern Kentucky University is a public institution located in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 92 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NKU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,049 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Northern Kentucky University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at NKU

#5

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middle Tennessee State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 121 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Middle Tennessee State University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $12,464 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Liberal Arts Report

#6

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 144 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid list, UNC Greensboro has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $12,748 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Liberal Arts Report

#7

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana
#22 in overall quality

McNeese State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. McNeese State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It awarded 3 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at McNeese, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McNeese State University is $12,267 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at McNeese

#8

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #8, Fayetteville State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Fayetteville State University is a public institution located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fayetteville State University is $5,899 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Fayetteville State University Liberal Arts Report

#9

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#9 in overall quality

West Virginia University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. West Virginia University is a large school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 60 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid list, WVU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WVU is $12,983 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at WVU

#10

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Florida Atlantic University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

FAU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FAU is $10,186 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Florida Atlantic University Liberal Arts Report

#11

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Carolina A & T State University is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 178 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for NC A&T is $10,274 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at NC A&T

#12

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky
#24 in overall quality

Murray State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Murray State University is a public institution located in Murray, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Murray State, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Murray State is $11,390 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Murray State University

#13

Clayton State University

Morrow, Georgia
#23 in overall quality

Clayton State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Clayton State University is a public institution located in Morrow, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 91 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Clayton State University also took the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,918 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Clayton State University.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Clayton State University

#14

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#2 in overall quality

James Madison University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 290 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $22,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full James Madison University Liberal Arts Report

#15

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Appalachian State University is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 11 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $13,920 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Appalachian State Liberal Arts Report

#16

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#3 in overall quality

George Mason University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school awarded 82 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid list, GMU has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend George Mason University is $21,048 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 George Mason University

Middle Georgia State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macon, Georgia, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Middle Georgia State University is $10,116 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Middle Georgia State University

#18

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#14 in overall quality

East Carolina University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. East Carolina University is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 251 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend ECU is $15,844 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at East Carolina University

Northwestern State University of Louisiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a fairly large school located in Natchitoches, Louisiana that handed out 26 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $12,866 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at NSU

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tifton, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ABAC Tifton is $6,933 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at ABAC Tifton

#21

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this large public school handed out 99 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $13,248 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of Memphis

#22

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Asheville came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Asheville, North Carolina, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNCA is $12,061 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at UNCA

#23

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas

With a ranking of #23, University of Arkansas at Little Rock did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Little Rock, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Arkansas at Little Rock is $14,906 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Full UA Little Rock Liberal Arts Report

#24

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, this fairly large public school handed out 93 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ETSU is $14,332 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full East Tennessee State University Liberal Arts Report

#25

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Jacksonville State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Jacksonville, Alabama. It awarded 105 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Jacksonville State University is $15,559 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Full Jacksonville State University Liberal Arts Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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