by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 918 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Oxnard College tops our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools in the United States. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Santiago Canyon College is a very large public school located in the city of Orange. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Liberal Arts graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $37,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #3 place for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,754 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $5,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex County College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,660 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $26,693 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $29,791 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College came in at #7 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,001 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $50,166. Set against $16,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #9 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $23,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,800 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,117. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moorpark College placed #11 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $32,492. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex Community College Bedford landed the #13 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,928 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $31,451 early in their careers. Set against $7,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $29,397 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Hartnell College earned the #15 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $22,681 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,282 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,373. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,387. That is a strong return on a $7,373 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,104 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Alabama Community College landed the #19 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,987 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $24,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts value this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $25,578. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Miramar College placed #23 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $31,804. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Pima Community College placed #24 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,939 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $31,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Valley Community College placed #25 among the best values for liberal arts. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $23,372. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in liberal arts:
The following schools rounded out the strongest liberal arts values:
| Rank | College | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #126 | Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas | Helena, AR | Full Report |
| #127 | Citrus College | Glendora, CA | Full Report |
| #128 | Folsom Lake College | Folsom, CA | Full Report |
| #129 | Mercer County Community College | West Windsor, NJ | Full Report |
| #130 | Norco College | Norco, CA | Full Report |
| #131 | Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Full Report |
| #132 | Chesapeake College | Wye Mills, MD | Full Report |
| #133 | Cuny College Of Staten Island | Staten Island, NY | Full Report |
| #134 | San Diego Mesa College | San Diego, CA | Full Report |
| #135 | Henry Ford Community College | Dearborn, MI | Full Report |
| #136 | Cincinnati State Technical And Community College | Cincinnati, OH | Full Report |
| #137 | Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas | De Queen, AR | Full Report |
| #138 | Sampson Community College | Clinton, NC | Full Report |
These schools earned honorable mentions for value in liberal arts:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Liberal Arts rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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 · 918 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 918 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.