[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 348 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts students.
Our analysis ranked Cuny City College the best value for a degree in liberal arts in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,985 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $43,059. Set against $12,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #2. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,171 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $30,824. That is a strong return on a $15,171 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University San Bernardino came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,295 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $24,979 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,295 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Texas A And M University Central Texas, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,363, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $22,688. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $38,253. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Cuny Lehman College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $54,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,213 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #6 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Median earnings reach $59,009 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Fullerton came in at #7 for value in liberal arts this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $13,535 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $24,706. That is a strong return on a $13,535 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Stanislaus came in at #8 for value in liberal arts this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Students from in state pay about $8,242 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,842. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,775. Liberal Arts graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $29,148 early in their careers. Set against $13,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,301 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $43,186 early in their careers. Set against $22,301 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg earned the #10 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,476, while out-of-state students pay about $9,424. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $18,557. Liberal Arts graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of $32,909 early in their careers. Set against $18,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fresno came in at #11 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Students borrow a median of $13,662 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $25,349 early in their careers. Set against $13,662 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island landed the #12 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,490 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,995. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,967. Set against $13,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #13 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,236. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Indiana University Kokomo generally make around $35,482. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
California State University Northridge placed #14 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $33,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #15 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Presque Isle, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,402 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,862 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Maine At Presque Isle generally make around $38,395. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine At Presque Isle admits about 100% of applicants.
Utah Valley University landed the #16 spot for liberal arts value 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, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,458 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $44,366. Set against $21,458 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,352, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,797 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $37,808. That is a strong return on a $13,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #18 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $15,453 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $33,588. That is a strong return on a $15,453 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Florida Atlantic University placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $19,453 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $29,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Maine At Fort Kent ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Fort Kent, University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,420, while out-of-state students pay about $14,880. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $30,447. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Maine At Fort Kent earn a median of $71,551 early in their careers. Set against $30,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #21 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $37,035 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
California State University Sacramento landed the #22 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University East Bay placed #23 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Students borrow a median of $15,944 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $36,509. That is a strong return on a $15,944 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
New College Of Florida earned the #24 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Sarasota, New College Of Florida is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,916, compared with $29,944 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,314 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of New College Of Florida earn a median of $20,395 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest earned the #25 position for value in liberal arts this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $29,517 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $33,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,517 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts value ranking:
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 · 348 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 348 ranked schools only.
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).
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
