2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
For return on investment in liberal arts, no school beat Mt Hood Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, compared with $9,819 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,083. Liberal Arts graduates of Mt Hood Community College earn a median of $24,658 early in their careers. Set against $11,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lane Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,202, with out-of-state students paying around $13,078. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,262. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $60,759. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clackamas Community College earned it the #3 place for liberal arts. Set in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,915 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $31,280. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tillamook Bay Community College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts. Located in the town of Tillamook, Tillamook Bay Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,896 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,616 for out-of-state students.
Treasure Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Treasure Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ontario. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,795. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,850. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chemeketa Community College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Students borrow a median of $12,834 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $29,163 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Klamath Community College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts. Klamath Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Klamath Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,965, with out-of-state students paying around $8,025. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $14,644. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Klamath Community College generally make around $24,370. Set against $14,644 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rogue Community College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts value this year. Rogue Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Grants Pass. Students from in state pay about $5,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Students borrow a median of $10,641 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,778. That is a strong return on a $10,641 median debt.
Portland Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts value this year. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $10,440. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,334. Liberal Arts graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $30,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Oregon Community College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts. Southwestern Oregon Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Coos Bay. In-state tuition and fees average $7,192. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Southwestern Oregon Community College generally make around $27,511. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Umpqua Community College earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,104. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,437 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,211. That is a strong return on a $10,437 median debt.
Columbia Gorge Community College placed #12 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the town of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940, while out-of-state students pay about $10,260. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,416 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Columbia Gorge Community College earn a median of $78,167 early in their careers. Set against $12,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Oregon Community College placed #13 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,683, with out-of-state students paying around $15,246. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $16,168 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Central Oregon Community College earn a median of $29,560 early in their careers. Set against $16,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Linn Benton Community College earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,317, compared with $16,736 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,636 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Mountain Community College earned the #15 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Pendleton, Blue Mountain Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,076, compared with $9,754 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $16,009 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,872. That is a strong return on a $16,009 median debt.
Portland State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $23,253. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Clatsop Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Astoria, Clatsop Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,110, compared with $9,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Clatsop Community College generally make around $23,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oregon State University placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $25,439 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $38,083. That is a strong return on a $25,439 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
