2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Oregon
[Liberal Arts General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts general studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts general studies students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts general studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Mt Hood Community College earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts general studies schools in Oregon. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $9,819. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,083 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $24,658. Set against $11,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lane Community College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,202, compared with $13,078 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,262 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Lane Community College earn a median of $60,759 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts general studies will find it at Clackamas Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,265. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $13,915 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Clackamas Community College earn a median of $31,280 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Treasure Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts general studies. Treasure Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ontario. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,795 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $24,850. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Tillamook Bay Community College one of the best values for liberal arts general studies. Set in the town of Tillamook, Tillamook Bay Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,896, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616.
Chemeketa Community College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Students borrow a median of $12,834 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $29,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Klamath Community College placed #7 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Located in the town of Klamath Falls, Klamath Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,965, with out-of-state students paying around $8,025. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $14,644 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $24,370. That is a strong return on a $14,644 median debt.
Rogue Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Grants Pass, Rogue Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $10,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Rogue Community College generally make around $26,778. Set against $10,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Portland Community College earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, compared with $10,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,334 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $30,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,334 median debt.
Southwestern Oregon Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Southwestern Oregon Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Coos Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,192. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $11,000. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Southwestern Oregon Community College earn a median of $27,511 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Umpqua Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the town of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,104 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $10,437. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Umpqua Community College generally make around $27,211. Set against $10,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Gorge Community College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Columbia Gorge Community College is a small public school located in the town of The Dalles. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $12,416 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Columbia Gorge Community College generally make around $78,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Oregon Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bend. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,683, compared with $15,246 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $16,168 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Central Oregon Community College generally make around $29,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn Benton Community College placed #14 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $7,317 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,736. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $11,636. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Linn Benton Community College earn a median of $24,383 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Mountain Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Blue Mountain Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pendleton. Students from in state pay about $7,076 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,754 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,009 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Blue Mountain Community College earn a median of $25,872 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,009 median debt.
Portland State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $23,253. That is a strong return on a $30,250 median debt. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Clatsop Community College came in at #17 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Astoria, Clatsop Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,110, with out-of-state students paying around $9,610. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Clatsop Community College generally make around $23,808. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Oregon State University placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $25,439. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $38,083 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,439 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
