2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Kentucky
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Kentucky
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 Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College, our #1 best value for liberal arts in Kentucky. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,949 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $27,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,442 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $27,569. That is a strong return on a $10,442 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,900 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $26,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,900 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Big Sandy Community And Technical College one of the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,129 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $22,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henderson Community College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts this year. Henderson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Henderson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,516. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $30,204. Set against $11,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Somerset Community College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,625 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,279. That is a strong return on a $12,625 median debt.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,531. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $26,590. Set against $9,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #9 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,703. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College earned the #10 position for value in liberal arts this year. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,019. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts value this year. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $12,400 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Gateway Community And Technical College earn a median of $36,311 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,400 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $13,399 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College earned the #13 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,386 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $26,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,386 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $30,467. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts value this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,730. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $36,623. Set against $13,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #16 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Kentucky University earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $25,813 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $36,072. That is a strong return on a $25,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Kentucky State University placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,387, with out-of-state students paying around $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Set against $29,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $28,162 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $34,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Brescia University landed the #20 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Owensboro, Brescia University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,550. Students borrow a median of $33,995 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $37,406. That is a strong return on a $33,995 median debt. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville placed #21 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $27,001. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $22,239 early in their careers. Set against $27,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $30,690. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $33,700. Set against $30,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Campbellsville University came in at #23 for value in liberal arts this year. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $28,956. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $43,474. Set against $28,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Campbellsville University admits about 80% of applicants.
Bellarmine University came in at #24 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $26,766. Liberal Arts graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $46,024 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,766 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Thomas More College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts value this year. Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,025. Students borrow a median of $29,358 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $62,607. That is a strong return on a $29,358 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
