2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Kansas
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Hutchinson Community College earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts schools in Kansas. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $26,151. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Independence Community College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts. Located in the rural area of Independence, Independence Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $7,302 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Independence Community College earn a median of $23,620 early in their careers. Set against $7,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coffeyville Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Coffeyville Community College earn a median of $28,357 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Fort Scott Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,390 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $3,840. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,638 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,303. That is a strong return on a $9,638 median debt.
Dodge City Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,427 ten years after entry.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $53,375. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Labette Community College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,064 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,864. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,095. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Cowley County Community College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $6,600. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cowley County Community College generally make around $25,966. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Garden City Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts value this year. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,400 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,110. That is a strong return on a $8,400 median debt.
Colby Community College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Colby, Colby Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, with out-of-state students paying around $5,830. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,240. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Neosho County Community College placed #11 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,704. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Neosho County Community College earn a median of $27,437 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
Pratt Community College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts value this year. Pratt Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pratt. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,936. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Pratt Community College generally make around $61,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allen County Community College placed #13 among the best values for liberal arts. Allen County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Iola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,260, compared with $4,860 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,596 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Barton County Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts value this year. Barton County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Great Bend. Students from in state pay about $3,680 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,960. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Barton County Community College generally make around $25,863. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Highland Community College Highland earned the #15 position for value in liberal arts this year. Highland Community College Highland is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Highland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,495. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $11,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $22,909. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fort Hays State University placed #16 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,923 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Students borrow a median of $25,592 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $49,649 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,592 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Cloud County Community College earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Cloud County Community College earn a median of $21,686 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Donnelly College came in at #18 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Donnelly College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,810 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $27,626. Liberal Arts graduates of Donnelly College earn a median of $49,147 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson County Community College earned the #19 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Students borrow a median of $9,700 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $29,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Christian College Of Kansas landed the #20 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the town of McPherson, Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,000. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $23,938 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $49,979. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Christian College Of Kansas admits about 53% of applicants.
Wichita State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,694. Liberal Arts graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $30,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,694 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Washburn University landed the #22 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, with out-of-state students paying around $20,949. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $39,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butler Community College came in at #23 for value in liberal arts this year. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,541, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,000. Liberal Arts graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $29,761 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Pittsburg State University placed #24 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $36,597 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Kansas City Kansas Community College earned the #25 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,996, while out-of-state students pay about $6,482. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $35,955. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Rest of the Top 30 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
