2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Florida
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 74 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 Florida
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
For return on investment in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, no school beat St Petersburg College this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Students borrow a median of $13,699 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $29,069 early in their careers. Set against $13,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,909. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $30,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seminole State College Of Florida earned it the #3 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,926. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Pensacola State College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,660 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $26,671 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Florida Online one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $17,779. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $43,822. That is a strong return on a $17,779 median debt. University Of Florida Online admits about 61% of applicants.
Chipola College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,950. 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 $20,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gulf Coast State College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $6,500. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $28,078 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Florida Community College placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,994, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from North Florida Community College generally make around $29,129. Set against $7,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Gateway College placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,100, compared with $11,747 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Florida Gateway College generally make around $21,925. Set against $8,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $30,406 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
University Of Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Indian River State College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $25,578. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
New College Of Florida came in at #13 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Sarasota, New College Of Florida is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,916 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,944. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $15,314. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $20,395. Set against $15,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
South Florida State College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. South Florida State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Avon Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,908 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $20,378 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,908 median debt.
Pasco Hernando Community College came in at #15 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,155, compared with $12,032 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,253. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Miami Dade College came in at #16 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $25,905 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $6,750. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,605. That is a strong return on a $6,750 median debt.
Lake Sumter Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Lake Sumter Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Leesburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,292, with out-of-state students paying around $13,276. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,822 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $23,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College landed the #19 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,791, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. 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 $26,771. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
The University Of West Florida ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $31,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Edison State College placed #21 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,401, while out-of-state students pay about $12,979. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,740. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #22 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,377 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,605. That is a strong return on a $15,377 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Johns River State College earned the #23 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Saint Johns River State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Palatka. Students from in state pay about $2,591 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,168. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Saint Johns River State College generally make around $26,738. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Daytona State College came in at #24 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $28,917 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Tallahassee Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,026, with out-of-state students paying around $8,062. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $25,467. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities:
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 74 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 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.
