2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Georgia
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Dalton State College the best value for a degree in liberal arts in Georgia. Located in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,336 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,656. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Dalton State College earn a median of $23,664 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Georgia Highlands College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Rome, Georgia Highlands College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $10,080. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,166 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Tifton. Students from in state pay about $3,268 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,588. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $28,064. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College admits about 76% of applicants.
Atlanta Metropolitan State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Metropolitan State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,248 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,400. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,750. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Atlanta Metropolitan State College generally make around $23,863. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Savannah State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,750, while out-of-state students pay about $19,043. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $20,770 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Savannah State University generally make around $34,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Georgia landed the #6 spot for liberal arts value this year. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $18,484 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $31,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Gordon State College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Barnesville, Gordon State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,628, while out-of-state students pay about $10,948. Students borrow a median of $17,375 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Gordon State College generally make around $22,725. Set against $17,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
South Georgia State College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts value this year. South Georgia State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Douglas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,314, while out-of-state students pay about $10,274. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,002. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Georgia Perimeter College earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts this year. Georgia Perimeter College is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $3,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $29,070. That is a strong return on a $16,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
East Georgia State College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Swainsboro, East Georgia State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,900, compared with $9,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of East Georgia State College earn a median of $24,900 early in their careers. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clayton State University earned the #11 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,180, while out-of-state students pay about $16,532. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $37,588. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $27,543. Set against $37,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Valdosta State University came in at #12 for value in liberal arts this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $25,441. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Georgia came in at #13 for value in liberal arts this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Georgia Gwinnett College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Georgia Gwinnett College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Students from in state pay about $4,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,844. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $21,280 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Georgia Gwinnett College earn a median of $55,992 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Gwinnett College admits about 96% of applicants.
College Of Coastal Georgia came in at #15 for value in liberal arts this year. College Of Coastal Georgia is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,616, compared with $10,936 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $19,240 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $40,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus State University landed the #16 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $51,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Valley State University landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Fort Valley, Fort Valley State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,878. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $39,693 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Fort Valley State University earn a median of $23,157 early in their careers. Set against $39,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Middle Georgia State University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts value this year. Middle Georgia State University is a large public school located in the city of Macon. Students from in state pay about $5,038 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,390 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $35,225 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $48,207. Set against $35,225 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Albany State University landed the #19 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the city of Albany, Albany State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,656, with out-of-state students paying around $17,008. Students borrow a median of $20,149 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Albany State University generally make around $28,576. Set against $20,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Southern University earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $34,576 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Toccoa Falls College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Toccoa Falls College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Toccoa Falls. Students from in state pay about $23,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,293 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Toccoa Falls College generally make around $42,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Brenau University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, Brenau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,757 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $36,299 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Brenau University generally make around $59,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brenau University admits about 88% of applicants.
Mercer University landed the #23 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,565. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $46,033. Liberal Arts graduates of Mercer University earn a median of $56,699 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $46,033 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University Oxford College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Oxford, Emory University Oxford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Students borrow a median of $11,260 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Emory University Oxford College generally make around $7,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
