by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
College Of Southern Idaho tops our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools in Idaho. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,603. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,658. That is a strong return on a $8,603 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Western Idaho earned it the #2 place for liberal arts. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,083. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,932.
Eastern Idaho Technical College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Idaho Falls, Eastern Idaho Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,390, while out-of-state students pay about $6,750. Students borrow a median of $14,038 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,507. That is a strong return on a $14,038 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Idaho State University one of the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $26,966 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $29,433. That is a strong return on a $26,966 median debt.
Lewis Clark State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lewiston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,610, compared with $22,028 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $22,099. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $36,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boise State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $15,894 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $40,886 early in their careers. Set against $15,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,824. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $25,923. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.