by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
College Factual analyzed 168 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.
For return on investment in liberal arts, no school beat Joliet Junior College this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. 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. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Macomb Community College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Valley Community College earned it the #3 place for liberal arts. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $22,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,346. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,754. That is a strong return on a $7,346 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts this year. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,022 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $34,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $22,915. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Triton College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #9 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,665 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $33,055 early in their careers. Set against $14,665 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carl Sandburg College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,390, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Carl Sandburg College generally make around $27,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rock Valley College came in at #11 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,035. Liberal Arts graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $27,601 early in their careers. Set against $7,035 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College earned the #13 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $24,918 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $20,759. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $39,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Muskegon Community College came in at #15 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $27,362. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #16 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,511 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $27,643. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $28,760 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,721. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
Morton College placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts. Morton College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cicero. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,884, while out-of-state students pay about $11,028. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $31,829. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richland Community College earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,680, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,125. Liberal Arts graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $26,712 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,125 median debt.
Lorain County Community College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts value this year. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,060 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,257. Set against $12,060 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe County Community College landed the #22 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Monroe, Monroe County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,759, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,488. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,539. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Kishwaukee College placed #23 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the rural area of Malta, Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $13,680. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,250. Liberal Arts graduates of Kishwaukee College earn a median of $21,090 early in their careers. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #24 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,236. Liberal Arts graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of $35,482 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,236 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
West Shore Community College came in at #25 for value in liberal arts this year. West Shore Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Scottville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Students borrow a median of $9,387 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of West Shore Community College earn a median of $25,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,387 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts value ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 168 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 168 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.