[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1537 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Finding the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School for You
The liberal arts / sciences & humanities program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Our analysis ranked Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities in the United States. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $27,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Oxnard College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny City College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $12,985 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $43,059. Set against $12,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Middlesex County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #5 spot this year. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. Students from in state pay about $4,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,660. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $26,693 early in their careers. Set against $8,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $29,791 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice landed the #7 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,678 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $43,545. Set against $12,678 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $15,171 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $30,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #9 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $31,804 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Irvine Valley College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College came in at #11 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,376. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moorpark College earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
El Centro College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $33,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
California State University San Bernardino landed the #15 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,295 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,979. That is a strong return on a $14,295 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Santa Ana College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,014 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $28,950. Set against $7,014 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $6,382. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $32,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #18 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,928 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $31,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $29,142. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $23,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College placed #21 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $18,208 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
College Of The Mainland earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,368. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo landed the #23 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $30,406. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #25 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $7,104. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts / sciences & humanities value ranking:
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 · 1537 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1,537 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).
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
