2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 401 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 Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Seminole State College Of Florida the best value for a degree in liberal arts in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $27,926. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Trident Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,376 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $50,166. Set against $9,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Northeast Alabama Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Located in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $7,987 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Northeast Alabama Community College earn a median of $24,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #4. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,909. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $30,678. That is a strong return on a $10,909 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Petersburg College earned it the #5 place for liberal arts. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Students borrow a median of $13,699 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $29,069 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,699 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,104. Liberal Arts graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $24,056 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,104 median debt.
Pensacola State College came in at #7 for value in liberal arts this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,660 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,671. That is a strong return on a $6,660 median debt.
Florida Gateway College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $21,925 early in their careers. Set against $8,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts value this year. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,250 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,681. That is a strong return on a $7,250 median debt.
Gulf Coast State College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,500. Liberal Arts graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $28,078 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #11 for value in liberal arts this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,321. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan generally make around $26,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockingham Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,574. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Rockingham Community College generally make around $30,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Florida Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,994, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from North Florida Community College generally make around $29,129. Set against $7,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts value this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $20,678. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Central Carolina Community College came in at #16 for value in liberal arts this year. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $19,606 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
University Of Florida Online earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $17,779 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $43,822. That is a strong return on a $17,779 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,037. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $36,276. That is a strong return on a $12,037 median debt.
Wayne Community College placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Shelby. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,131. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,055. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College earned the #21 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,190, with out-of-state students paying around $9,060. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,295. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnston Community College earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College placed #23 among the best values for liberal arts. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $30,406 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stanly Community College came in at #24 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,672, with out-of-state students paying around $8,816. Liberal Arts graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $28,120 early in their careers.
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $21,360. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in liberal arts:
Narrow Liberal Arts Schools by State
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 401 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 247 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.
