2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Florida
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 49 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Florida
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
For return on investment in liberal arts, no school beat Indian River State College this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $25,578 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $30,406. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Petersburg College earned it the #3 place for liberal arts. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,699 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $29,069. That is a strong return on a $13,699 median debt.
North Florida Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,902. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,129. Set against $7,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,950. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Chipola College generally make around $20,678. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Florida State College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,165, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,908 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from South Florida State College generally make around $20,378. That is a strong return on a $5,908 median debt.
Pensacola State College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. 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. Liberal Arts graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $26,671 early in their careers. Set against $6,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Florida Online earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,876 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $17,784 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $43,438 early in their careers. Set against $17,784 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Northwest Florida State College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,583, compared with $10,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northwest Florida State College generally make around $24,605. Set against $6,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College placed #11 among the best values for liberal arts. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $25,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Florida earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Gulf Coast State College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $28,078 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Pasco Hernando Community College earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,155 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,032. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Pasco Hernando Community College earn a median of $27,253 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College came in at #15 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $21,925. Set against $8,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Sumter Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts value this year. Lake Sumter Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Leesburg. In-state tuition and fees average $3,292, compared with $13,276 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $6,822. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,608. Set against $6,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Florida State College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,791, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,500. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,771. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Edison State College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,401, while out-of-state students pay about $12,979. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $27,740 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Saint Johns River State College came in at #19 for value in liberal arts this year. Saint Johns River State College is a large public school located in the town of Palatka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,591, compared with $9,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,168. Liberal Arts graduates of Saint Johns River State College earn a median of $26,738 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $28,917. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #21 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $15,377. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Tallahassee Community College earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,062 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Tallahassee Community College generally make around $25,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #23 spot for liberal arts value this year. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. In-state tuition and fees average $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $27,926 early in their careers. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,125. Liberal Arts graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $29,805 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,125 median debt.
New College Of Florida came in at #25 for value in liberal arts this year. New College Of Florida is a small public school located in the city of Sarasota. In-state tuition and fees average $6,916, while out-of-state students pay about $29,944. Students borrow a median of $15,314 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from New College Of Florida generally make around $20,395. That is a strong return on a $15,314 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Rest of the Top 49 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts value ranking:
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
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 · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 49 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.
