2027 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in New York
[Liberal Arts General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts general studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 82 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value liberal arts general studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts general studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
For return on investment in liberal arts general studies, no school beat Cuny City College this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $12,985 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $43,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts general studies will find it at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $12,678 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the best values for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $26,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts general studies will find it at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College, which ranked #5. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,170, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,057 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $23,669. Set against $8,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Bronx Community College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,206, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $26,251. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Queensborough Community College earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,450 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $19,582 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,450 median debt.
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $11,498. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $24,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,498 median debt. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,252, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $8,115. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $27,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Hostos Community College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,254 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Students borrow a median of $6,549 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $22,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nassau Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $27,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ulster County Community College earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,666, compared with $12,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $24,015. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Medgar Evers College came in at #13 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,343 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $31,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Medgar Evers College admits about 86% of applicants.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology placed #14 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,144 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $18,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
Monroe Community College came in at #15 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $11,000. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $25,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #16 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $21,713. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Stella And Charles Guttman Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,194, compared with $8,074 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Stella And Charles Guttman Community College earn a median of $21,272 early in their careers.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #18 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Students borrow a median of $10,046 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $28,464 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,046 median debt.
Orange County Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,526, with out-of-state students paying around $12,334. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $10,625. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Orange County Community College generally make around $20,630. That is a strong return on a $10,625 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College came in at #20 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $8,764. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $30,417. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Fulton Montgomery Community College earned the #21 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Fulton Montgomery Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,198, while out-of-state students pay about $6,798. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $10,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Fulton Montgomery Community College generally make around $21,482. Set against $10,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Farmingdale State College earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,626, with out-of-state students paying around $18,536. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $11,000. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $22,443 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia Greene Community College came in at #23 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hudson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,048, with out-of-state students paying around $11,448. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $28,342. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Erie Community College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,090 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $23,608. Set against $10,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $22,942. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in liberal arts general studies:
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
View All Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 82 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 82 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.
