2026 Best Value Humanities Schools in Arizona
[Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong humanities education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value humanities schools.
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2026 Best Value Humanities Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in humanities, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Humanities Schools
Our analysis ranked Rio Salado College the best value for a degree in humanities in Arizona. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Phoenix College one of the best values for humanities. Phoenix College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career humanities graduates make about $51,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Cochise College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $9,957. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Glendale Community College Glendale Az, which ranked #4. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Humanities graduates carry a median of $7,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Set against $7,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Estrella Mountain Community College one of the best values for humanities. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Humanities graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Humanities graduates of Estrella Mountain Community College earn a median of $78,359 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Mountain Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,825 ten years after entry.
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #7 for value in humanities this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $6,625. Early-career humanities graduates make about $46,943. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community College Phoenix placed #8 among the best values for humanities. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,736 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Gateway Community College Phoenix generally make around $50,350. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $46,084 early in their careers. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paradise Valley Community College placed #10 among the best values for humanities. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $10,986. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Paradise Valley Community College generally make around $71,136. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona State University placed #11 among the best values for humanities. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the humanities program here. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $44,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $11,000. Early-career humanities graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Arizona ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value humanities schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Humanities graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Humanities graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
