2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Kentucky
[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 40 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 Kentucky
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
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools in Kentucky. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,949 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $27,263. Set against $10,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hazard Community And Technical College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $10,442. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $27,569. Set against $10,442 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Owensboro Community And Technical College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,386. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $26,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,386 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities will find it at Hopkinsville Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Hopkinsville Community College generally make around $27,978. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,900 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $26,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,900 median debt.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $9,531. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $26,590. That is a strong return on a $9,531 median debt.
Somerset Community College earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,625 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $24,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #8 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Ashland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $13,399 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $27,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College came in at #9 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,129. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $22,504. That is a strong return on a $8,129 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. 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 Elizabethtown Community And Technical College generally make around $28,792. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #11 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $30,467. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Henderson Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $11,516. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Henderson Community College generally make around $30,204. Set against $11,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,400. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Gateway Community And Technical College earn a median of $36,311 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maysville Community And Technical College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $12,703. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Maysville Community And Technical College generally make around $27,342. Set against $12,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $13,730. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $36,623. That is a strong return on a $13,730 median debt.
Madisonville Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $24,019 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
Northern Kentucky University placed #17 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $25,813. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $36,072. Set against $25,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Murray State University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $28,162. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $34,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Kentucky State University placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,387, while out-of-state students pay about $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $28,497. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $22,868 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,547 early in their careers. Set against $22,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University placed #21 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $22,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $31,231. Set against $22,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Morehead State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $25,739. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $27,564 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University earned the #23 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $22,446 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $35,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Lindsey Wilson College earned the #24 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,808. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $37,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Kentucky ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $30,690. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $33,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 30 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
The ranking above is published 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
