2026 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 334 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
What’s on this page:
2026 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
Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College, our #1 best value for liberal arts / sciences & humanities in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,348 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $31,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities will find it at Moraine Valley Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $23,372 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,925 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $29,168 early in their careers. Set against $12,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $13,600 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $34,644. That is a strong return on a $13,600 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned it the #5 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn a median of $32,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,750 median debt.
Carl Sandburg College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,390, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $6,000. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,529. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Kankakee Community College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,900 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,900 median debt.
Triton College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,500. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Triton College earn a median of $27,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $27,296 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Area Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,440, compared with $7,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,912 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $28,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,022 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $34,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,800 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. 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.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #13 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $27,619. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage placed #15 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $28,678. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Lake Land College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. 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.
Elgin Community College placed #17 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,750. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $22,915 early in their careers. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College earned the #19 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,750. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $28,721. That is a strong return on a $10,750 median debt.
College Of Lake County placed #20 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,687 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $33,413. Set against $6,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College placed #21 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. 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 Macomb Community College generally make around $29,791. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #22 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $20,759. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,759 median debt.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #23 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $28,760 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waubonsee Community College placed #24 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. Students from in state pay about $3,504 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $7,250. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $27,597 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,250 median debt.
Oakland Community College earned the #25 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,843. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $37,347. Set against $12,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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 ranking is produced 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 · 334 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 154 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.
