2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k)
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,990 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 91 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k)
Out of the 91 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #1 spot on the list. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UPenn has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Johns Hopkins University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 35 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Johns Hopkins University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 147 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 16 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duke, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Georgetown has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Georgetown University
Vanderbilt University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Vanderbilt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Vanderbilt
Wesleyan University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wesleyan U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Middletown, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Wesleyan U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wesleyan U are $59,106.
With a ranking of #8, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
NC State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999.
Texas A & M University - Central Texas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Killeen, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Texas A & M University - Central Texas
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Richmond ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in University of Richmond, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at URichmond, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at URichmond are $25,260, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at NKU are $17,358, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northern Kentucky University
Stony Brook University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stony Brook University is a public institution located in Stony Brook, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 65 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SUNY Stony Brook did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Stony Brook are $25,583.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at SUNY Stony Brook
Florida State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707.
Full Florida State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 20 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Austin also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full The University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #16, Indiana University - Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #17, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #18, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Ohio State
With a ranking of #19, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at California State University - Northridge
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full San Diego State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Towson University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Towson University is a public institution located in Towson, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Towson are $18,972.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 34 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Middle Tennessee State University are $26,172, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Middle Tennessee State University
With a ranking of #23, College of Staten Island CUNY did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Staten Island, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at College of Staten Island CUNY are $21,080.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Staten Island CUNY
With a ranking of #24, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. South Bend, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Liberal Arts General Studies Report
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNC Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are $21,918, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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