2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in District of Columbia
[Liberal Arts General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value liberal arts general studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in District of Columbia
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
Our analysis ranked Trinity Washington University the best value for a degree in liberal arts general studies in District of Columbia. Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,610. Students borrow a median of $23,323 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Trinity Washington University earn a median of $50,283 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
University Of The District Of Columbia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,662, compared with $12,514 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,795 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $57,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the best values for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $73,749. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgetown University earned it the #4 place for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $66,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
