by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1597 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Cuny Lehman College, our #1 best value for liberal arts in the United States. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,213. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $54,729. Set against $13,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for liberal arts. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $42,557. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $30,676. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $45,230 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Stanford University, which ranked #4. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,492. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Louisiana State University Shreveport is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,327. Students borrow a median of $34,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Louisiana State University Shreveport generally make around $34,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
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Tennessee State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $38,562. Liberal Arts graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,716 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $38,562 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $25,898 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $52,522. That is a strong return on a $25,898 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Clayton State University placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts. Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Morrow. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,180, while out-of-state students pay about $16,532. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $37,588 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Clayton State University earn a median of $27,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot for liberal arts value this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $29,723. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $55,570. Set against $29,723 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Fort Hays State University landed the #10 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Students borrow a median of $25,592 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $56,503. Set against $25,592 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis landed the #11 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $38,972. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $55,105. Set against $38,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Brockport earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $24,757 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $39,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville State University placed #13 among the best values for liberal arts. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $27,546. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $30,939. Set against $27,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #14 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $25,993. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $48,700. Set against $25,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University came in at #15 for value in liberal arts this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $74,387 early in their careers. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Auburn University At Montgomery placed #16 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,746 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $33,708 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $64,717 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Peay State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $22,314. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $53,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $45,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $19,052 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $94,745. That is a strong return on a $19,052 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #21 spot for liberal arts value this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $26,094. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #22 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,764, with out-of-state students paying around $37,276. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Rutgers University Camden generally make around $35,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #23 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,235, with out-of-state students paying around $15,185. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $59,752 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Graduate School And University Center admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Dallas earned the #24 position for value in liberal arts this year. University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irving. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,930. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Dallas earn a median of $58,396 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,411 median debt. University Of Dallas admits about 53% of applicants.
St Johns College New Mexico ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Santa Fe, St Johns College New Mexico is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,514 in tuition and fees. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of St Johns College New Mexico earn a median of $23,029 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts value ranking:
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Explore the best-value liberal arts schools at other degree levels:
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 · 1597 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.