2027 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 216 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools in the Great Lakes Region. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Macomb Community College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,250. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $29,791 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Valley Community College earned it the #3 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,750. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $23,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $7,346. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $24,754 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $22,700. That is a strong return on a $6,800 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $11,022 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $34,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College came in at #7 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,500. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,342. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Rock Valley College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $7,035. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,601. That is a strong return on a $7,035 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,750. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $22,915. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Schoolcraft College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,734 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $24,918 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Carl Sandburg College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,390, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $6,000. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,529. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Students borrow a median of $14,665 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $33,055. Set against $14,665 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College came in at #14 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Set against $5,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Morton College placed #15 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,884, compared with $11,028 for out-of-state students. 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 $31,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #16 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. 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 Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $28,760. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Muskegon Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $27,362. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Delta College came in at #18 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Delta College earn a median of $28,721 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Students borrow a median of $20,759 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $39,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,511 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $27,643 early in their careers. Set against $11,511 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,380. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $25,377. That is a strong return on a $8,380 median debt.
College Of Dupage came in at #22 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,500. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $28,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe County Community College earned the #23 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Monroe County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Monroe. In-state tuition and fees average $4,759, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $30,539. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Richland Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. In-state tuition and fees average $4,680, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,125. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $26,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kishwaukee College came in at #25 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the rural area of Malta, Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $13,680. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $21,090. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 216 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 216 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.
