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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Leading the list is Cuny City College, our #1 best value for liberal arts in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,985. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $43,059. That is a strong return on a $12,985 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for liberal arts. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $26,874 early in their careers. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Frederick Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,849, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. Students borrow a median of $8,935 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $22,067 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middlesex County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,660 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $26,693. That is a strong return on a $8,660 median debt.
ADBLOCK #101
Camden County College came in at #6 for value in liberal arts this year. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,320, with out-of-state students paying around $4,416. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $9,789. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,655. Set against $9,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carroll Community College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Westminster, Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,308, compared with $10,158 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,750. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $23,320. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chesapeake College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Wye Mills, Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,274, compared with $8,768 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Chesapeake College earn a median of $29,611 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny College Of Staten Island earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,498 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $24,758. That is a strong return on a $11,498 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Cuny Bronx Community College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $7,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $26,251. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. Students borrow a median of $10,343 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College generally make around $31,335. Set against $10,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ulster County Community College placed #22 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,750. Liberal Arts graduates of Ulster County Community College earn a median of $24,015 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #23 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $5,500. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $21,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,469. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,852. That is a strong return on a $13,469 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College placed #25 among the best values for liberal arts. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $10,046. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. Set against $10,046 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts value ranking:
Narrow Liberal Arts Schools by State
[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.
