Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Liberal Arts General Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region

73 Ranked Colleges
6,961 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in the Middle Atlantic Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

Across the Middle Atlantic region, there were 45,290 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,587 and $17,772 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,961 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,278 and $24,587 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking, we looked at 73 colleges that offer 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region

#1

Thomas Edison State University

Trenton, New Jersey

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Thomas Edison State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. Thomas Edison State University is a fairly large public school situated in Trenton, New Jersey. It awarded 473 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

TESU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list.

Full Thomas Edison State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#2

Excelsior University

Albany, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Excelsior University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Albany, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,445 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, Excelsior University has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Excelsior University

#3

Maria College of Albany

Albany, New York
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Maria College of Albany. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. Maria College of Albany is a private not-for-profit institution located in Albany, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, Maria College of Albany has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Maria College of Albany is $12,995 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Maria College of Albany

#4

Wilmington University

New Castle, Delaware

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wilmington University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Wilmington University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Castle, Delaware. It awarded 66 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,683 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Wilmington University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wilmington University

#5

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Graduate Center, CUNY. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 54 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full The Graduate Center Liberal Arts General Studies Report

University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This large school is located in Adelphi, Maryland, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,288 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend University of Maryland Global Campus.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Maryland Global Campus

#7

Stockton University

Galloway, New Jersey

Stockton University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Galloway, New Jersey, and it awarded 111 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Stockton State also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Stockton University is $19,678 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Stockton State

#8

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in California, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 55 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,154 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend California University of Pennsylvania.

Full Cal U Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#9

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York

With a ranking of #9, SUNY Cortland did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Cortland, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Cortland is $18,705 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at SUNY Cortland

#10

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 104 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CCNY is $2,385 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full The City College of New York Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey

Rowan University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Glassboro, New Jersey, this fairly large public school awarded 193 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Rowan also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $25,454 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Rowan University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Rowan University

#12

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion, Pennsylvania

Clarion University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Clarion University of Pennsylvania is located in Clarion, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 146 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Clarion University of Pennsylvania is $20,011 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Clarion University

#13

Salisbury University

Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Salisbury University is a medium-sized public school situated in Salisbury, Maryland. It awarded 66 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Salisbury is $19,617 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Salisbury Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#14

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #14, West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This fairly large school is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 161 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

WCUPA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $22,495 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend WCUPA.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at WCUPA

#15

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Edinboro is $16,833 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#16

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield, Pennsylvania

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small school is located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,065 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

Full Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#17

SUNY New Paltz

New Paltz, New York

SUNY New Paltz landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. SUNY New Paltz is a medium-sized school located in New Paltz, New York that handed out 17 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SUNY New Paltz is $17,171 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SUNY New Paltz Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#18

Purchase College

Purchase, New York

Purchase College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Purchase, New York, and it awarded 120 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Purchase College is $18,326 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Purchase College

#19

SUNY Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, New York

SUNY Plattsburgh ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. SUNY Plattsburgh is located in Plattsburgh, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $15,845 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend SUNY Plattsburgh.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at SUNY Plattsburgh

#20

Buffalo State

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo State landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Buffalo, New York, and it awarded 126 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,960 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend Buffalo State.

Full Buffalo State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#21

Montclair State University

Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Montclair State is a large public school situated in Montclair, New Jersey. It awarded 48 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Montclair State is $18,034 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Montclair State University

#22

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, Maryland

Frostburg State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small school is located in Frostburg, Maryland, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,676 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend Frostburg State.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Frostburg State

#23

Baruch College

New York, New York

Baruch College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,562 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Baruch.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Baruch

William Paterson University of New Jersey came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. William Paterson University of New Jersey is a medium-sized public school situated in Wayne, New Jersey. It awarded 78 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for William Paterson University of New Jersey is $19,547 for Middle Atlantic Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at William Paterson University

#25

St. Joseph's College - New York

Brooklyn, New York

With a ranking of #25, St. Joseph’s College - New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Middle Atlantic Region list. St. Joseph’s College - New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,360 for middle atlantic region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend St. Joseph’s College - New York.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SJC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Liberal Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You