2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Oregon
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Our analysis ranked Mt Hood Community College the best value for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities in Oregon. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, compared with $9,819 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,083 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $24,658. That is a strong return on a $11,083 median debt.
Lane Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,202, while out-of-state students pay about $13,078. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,262. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lane Community College generally make around $60,759. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Clackamas Community College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,265. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $13,915 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Clackamas Community College earn a median of $31,280 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,915 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Treasure Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the town of Ontario, Treasure Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, compared with $6,795 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,000. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Treasure Valley Community College earn a median of $24,850 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tillamook Bay Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Tillamook, Tillamook Bay Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,896, compared with $5,616 for out-of-state students.
Chemeketa Community College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,345, compared with $14,040 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,834 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Klamath Community College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the town of Klamath Falls, Klamath Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,965, while out-of-state students pay about $8,025. Students borrow a median of $14,644 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Klamath Community College generally make around $24,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rogue Community College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Rogue Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Grants Pass. In-state tuition and fees average $5,256, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Students borrow a median of $10,641 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Rogue Community College earn a median of $26,778 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Portland Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $10,440. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $15,334. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $30,852. That is a strong return on a $15,334 median debt.
Southwestern Oregon Community College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Southwestern Oregon Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Coos Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,192. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Umpqua Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,104. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,437. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Umpqua Community College generally make around $27,211. Set against $10,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Gorge Community College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the town of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,416. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $78,167. That is a strong return on a $12,416 median debt.
Central Oregon Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,683, with out-of-state students paying around $15,246. Students borrow a median of $16,168 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Central Oregon Community College generally make around $29,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn Benton Community College placed #14 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $7,317, with out-of-state students paying around $16,736. Students borrow a median of $11,636 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,383. Set against $11,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Mountain Community College came in at #15 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Blue Mountain Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pendleton. In-state tuition and fees average $7,076, compared with $9,754 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,009 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Blue Mountain Community College earn a median of $25,872 early in their careers. Set against $16,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Portland State University landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $23,253 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Clatsop Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the town of Astoria, Clatsop Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,110, with out-of-state students paying around $9,610. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $15,000. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Clatsop Community College earn a median of $23,808 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oregon State University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,439 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $38,083. Set against $25,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
