by our College Data Analytics Team
[Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 484 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for humanities students.
What’s on this page:
The right humanities school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Humanities Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Humanities Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in humanities, no school beat Irvine Valley College this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Miramar College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in humanities, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $31,804. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Oxnard College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Skyline College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in humanities, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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College Of The Canyons landed the #6 spot for humanities value this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Humanities graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $29,142 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College placed #7 among the best values for humanities. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Golden West College came in at #8 for value in humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $21,500. Early-career humanities graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Ventura College came in at #9 for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #10 for value in humanities this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $12,678. Humanities graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,678 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #11 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $5,500. Early-career humanities graduates make about $23,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Canada College placed #12 among the best values for humanities. Set in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Canada College generally make around $106,691. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
San Diego Mesa College placed #13 among the best values for humanities. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $33,015. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Folsom Lake College landed the #14 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,568.
Orange Coast College came in at #15 for value in humanities this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $6,955. Early-career humanities graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $6,955 median debt.
Moorpark College earned the #16 position for value in humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Humanities graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #17 position for value in humanities this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $15,453. Humanities graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Pasadena City College placed #18 among the best values for humanities. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the humanities program here. Early-career humanities graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College earned the #19 position for value in humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $18,207. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #20 among the best values for humanities. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $14,692. Early-career humanities graduates make about $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $18,208 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College placed #22 among the best values for humanities. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $7,014. Humanities graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $28,950 early in their careers. Set against $7,014 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College landed the #23 spot for humanities value this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $8,203 to complete the humanities program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #24 spot for humanities value this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Humanities graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $26,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College earned the #25 position for value in humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
These schools also delivered strong value for humanities this year:
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Humanities is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
This list is compiled 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 · 484 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 146 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.