2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 163 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Our analysis ranked Cuny City College the best value for a degree in liberal arts in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,985. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $43,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Middlesex County College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,660 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $26,693. That is a strong return on a $8,660 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,874. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,213. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $54,729 early in their careers. Set against $13,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Burlington County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,990, compared with $9,495 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $28,376 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Carroll Community College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts this year. Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Westminster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,308, with out-of-state students paying around $10,158. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Carroll Community College generally make around $23,320. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Students borrow a median of $8,057 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,669. That is a strong return on a $8,057 median debt.
Cuny Bronx Community College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,251. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,498 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Chesapeake College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts this year. Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wye Mills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,274, with out-of-state students paying around $8,768. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queensborough Community College earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,450 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $19,582 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,450 median debt.
Mercer County Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of West Windsor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,310, compared with $9,174 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,870. Liberal Arts graduates of Mercer County Community College earn a median of $27,586 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Camden County College earned the #13 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,789. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Camden County College generally make around $27,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #14 among the best values for liberal arts. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,115 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $27,831. That is a strong return on a $8,115 median debt.
Cuny Hostos Community College placed #15 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,254, while out-of-state students pay about $8,134. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,549 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,344. That is a strong return on a $6,549 median debt.
Nassau Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,510. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Raritan Valley Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $21,336. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Essex County College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,302 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Essex County College earn a median of $25,792 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Medgar Evers College landed the #19 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,343. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Medgar Evers College earn a median of $31,335 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,343 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ulster County Community College placed #20 among the best values for liberal arts. Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Stone Ridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,015. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #21 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,144 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $18,360. That is a strong return on a $11,144 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Westmoreland County Community College earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $14,728. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Monroe Community College earned the #23 position for value in liberal arts this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #24 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $21,713. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delaware County Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $14,797. Liberal Arts graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $29,277 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for liberal arts this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 163 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 163 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.
