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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Vermont earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts schools in Vermont. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $22,607. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $44,588. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Vermont earned it the #2 place for liberal arts. Located in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,920, compared with $13,640 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $10,843 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Community College Of Vermont earn a median of $29,597 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vermont Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,952, while out-of-state students pay about $22,296. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $24,208 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $41,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Champlain College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts. Champlain College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Burlington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,850. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $23,949. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Champlain College generally make around $71,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.