2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in New York
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 124 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in New York
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 Cuny City College, our #1 best value for liberal arts / sciences & humanities in New York. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,985. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $43,059 early in their careers. Set against $12,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $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%.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #3. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $26,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $13,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. Set against $13,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Bronx Community College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $7,000. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $26,251 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,498 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,758. That is a strong return on a $11,498 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Cuny Queensborough Community College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. 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. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,450. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $19,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,057 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $23,669 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nassau Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,500. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $27,510 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. 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, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,115 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $27,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Hostos Community College placed #11 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,254 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,549 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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.
Ulster County Community College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Stone Ridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,015. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #13 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,144 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $18,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #14 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $10,046 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $28,464 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Medgar Evers College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,352, compared with $15,302 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,343. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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 Laguardia Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $5,500. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $21,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Farmingdale State College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. In-state tuition and fees average $8,626, while out-of-state students pay about $18,536. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $22,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Monroe Community College earned the #18 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $25,252. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Schenectady County Community College landed the #19 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,190, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,902 ten years after entry.
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College came in at #20 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of New York, Stella And Charles Guttman Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,194, compared with $8,074 for out-of-state students. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $21,272.
Orange County Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,526 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,334. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $20,630. That is a strong return on a $10,625 median debt.
Erie Community College came in at #22 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,090 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $23,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbia Greene Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hudson. In-state tuition and fees average $6,048, with out-of-state students paying around $11,448. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $28,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College placed #24 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. 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. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $30,417. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockland Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,862. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,390. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $21,840. 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:
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 124 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 58 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.
