2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in New York
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 71 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
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2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny City College the best value for a degree in liberal arts in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,213. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $26,874 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Cuny Bronx Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,206, while out-of-state students pay about $8,086. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $26,251 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Queensborough Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,450. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $19,582 early in their careers. Set against $8,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #7 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,498 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $24,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Cuny Hostos Community College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,254, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Students borrow a median of $6,549 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $22,344 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,549 median debt.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,115 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,831. Set against $8,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nassau Community College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts value this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,510. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Ulster County Community College placed #11 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. Students from in state pay about $6,666 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,146. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,750. Liberal Arts graduates of Ulster County Community College earn a median of $24,015 early in their careers. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology landed the #12 spot for liberal arts value this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. 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. Set against $11,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #13 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. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. Students borrow a median of $10,343 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $31,335. That is a strong return on a $10,343 median debt. Cuny Medgar Evers College admits about 86% of applicants.
Monroe Community College came in at #14 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $38,757 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $21,713. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Stella And Charles Guttman Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,194, compared with $8,074 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Stella And Charles Guttman Community College generally make around $21,272.
Orange County Community College earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts this year. Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,526, compared with $12,334 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,625 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $20,630. That is a strong return on a $10,625 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,046. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. That is a strong return on a $10,046 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College came in at #19 for value in liberal arts this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. In-state tuition and fees average $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Students borrow a median of $8,764 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $30,417 early in their careers. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Greene Community College came in at #20 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Hudson, Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,048, while out-of-state students pay about $11,448. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Columbia Greene Community College earn a median of $28,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erie Community College placed #21 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,090. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $37,069. Set against $10,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,942. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Genesee Community College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,900, with out-of-state students paying around $6,500. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,064. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $22,079. That is a strong return on a $10,064 median debt.
Suny College At Old Westbury came in at #24 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,372, with out-of-state students paying around $18,842. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $24,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Suny College At Old Westbury generally make around $27,165. Set against $24,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Corning Community College placed #25 among the best values for liberal arts. Corning Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Corning. In-state tuition and fees average $6,534, with out-of-state students paying around $10,326. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Corning Community College earn a median of $26,679 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in liberal arts:
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 71 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.
