2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the New England 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 99 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the New England 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
Leading the list is Middlesex Community College Bedford, our #1 best value for liberal arts in the New England Region. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,928. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $31,451. That is a strong return on a $7,928 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Rhode Island earned it the #2 place for liberal arts. Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public school located in the city of Warwick. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, compared with $14,834 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,997 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,952. That is a strong return on a $8,997 median debt.
Bunker Hill Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,585 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $38,564 early in their careers. Set against $9,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Northern Essex Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Haverhill. In-state tuition and fees average $6,732, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,969 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northern Essex Community College generally make around $31,549. That is a strong return on a $9,969 median debt.
North Shore Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from North Shore Community College generally make around $33,353. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bristol Community College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,832, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,250. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $31,206. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Massachusetts Bay Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,856, with out-of-state students paying around $10,800. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,750. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $37,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York County Community College placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts. York County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Wells. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,757 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from York County Community College generally make around $35,803. That is a strong return on a $12,757 median debt.
Holyoke Community College placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,995. Liberal Arts graduates of Holyoke Community College earn a median of $25,779 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,995 median debt.
Massasoit Community College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,376, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,375. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Massasoit Community College generally make around $28,529. That is a strong return on a $9,375 median debt.
Capital Community College placed #11 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,050 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $25,072. Set against $6,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Springfield Technical Community College placed #12 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,734. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,413. Set against $8,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Quinsigamond Community College earned the #13 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Quinsigamond Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,262, with out-of-state students paying around $11,206. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $14,250. Liberal Arts graduates of Quinsigamond Community College earn a median of $33,524 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle placed #14 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the rural area of Presque Isle, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,402, while out-of-state students pay about $14,862. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,750. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Maine At Presque Isle generally make around $38,395. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Cape Cod Community College earned the #15 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of West Barnstable, Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,000, with out-of-state students paying around $10,944. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,749. Liberal Arts graduates of Cape Cod Community College earn a median of $23,563 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,749 median debt.
Greenfield Community College placed #16 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the town of Greenfield, Greenfield Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,810, while out-of-state students pay about $11,930. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $58,356. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Maine Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, with out-of-state students paying around $7,020. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,575. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $31,646. That is a strong return on a $15,575 median debt.
Kennebec Valley Community College placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts. Kennebec Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairfield. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Kennebec Valley Community College generally make around $32,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Worcester State University earned the #19 position for value in liberal arts this year. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,907 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $45,297. That is a strong return on a $23,907 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Mount Wachusett Community College placed #20 among the best values for liberal arts. Mount Wachusett Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Gardner. In-state tuition and fees average $6,160, while out-of-state students pay about $11,080. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,600. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Harvard University came in at #21 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,126 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $54,555. Set against $20,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Community College Of Vermont placed #22 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,920, compared with $13,640 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,843 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Community College Of Vermont earn a median of $29,597 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Charter Oak State College came in at #23 for value in liberal arts this year. Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of New Britain. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,506. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $20,205. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $44,615. That is a strong return on a $20,205 median debt.
Roxbury Community College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts value this year. Roxbury Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Roxbury Crossing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $11,088. Students borrow a median of $11,665 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Roxbury Community College earn a median of $46,124 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Maine Community College placed #25 among the best values for liberal arts. Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,250. Liberal Arts graduates of Southern Maine Community College earn a median of $27,742 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 rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts value ranking:
Narrow Liberal Arts Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 99 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 41 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.
