2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Missouri
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Leading the list is St Charles Community College, our #1 best value for liberal arts in Missouri. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $25,968. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,250. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,813. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Moberly Area 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 Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $8,640. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,993 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Moberly Area Community College earn a median of $26,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Louis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $25,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Students borrow a median of $8,911 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
State Fair Community College placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $7,416. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of State Fair Community College earn a median of $26,386 early in their careers. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Truman State University landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $23,168. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts. Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Poplar Bluff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,830, compared with $6,060 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,957 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff earn a median of $28,750 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,957 median debt.
Missouri Southern State University placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $31,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $36,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $39,992. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Harris Stowe State University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Harris Stowe State University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,008, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $32,394. Liberal Arts graduates of Harris Stowe State University earn a median of $31,173 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mineral Area College earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,660, compared with $8,570 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Mineral Area College generally make around $25,462. That is a strong return on a $8,273 median debt.
North Central Missouri College placed #13 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,638 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from North Central Missouri College generally make around $24,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $23,585 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $42,939. That is a strong return on a $23,585 median debt. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #15 position for value in liberal arts this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $35,750. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $38,332 early in their careers. Set against $35,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #16 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,371 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $33,014. That is a strong return on a $28,371 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Columbia College Missouri came in at #17 for value in liberal arts this year. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,276. Students borrow a median of $23,309 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $46,366. That is a strong return on a $23,309 median debt.
Rockhurst University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,111 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $70,849. Set against $24,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
William Woods University earned the #19 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Fulton, William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,340 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,512 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $46,635. Set against $25,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. William Woods University admits about 71% of applicants.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
