2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Connecticut
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts general studies students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Connecticut
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
Capital Community College earned the #1 spot for value among liberal arts general studies schools in Connecticut. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $6,050. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $25,072. Set against $6,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Charter Oak State College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts general studies. Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Students from in state pay about $8,506 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,205 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $44,615. That is a strong return on a $20,205 median debt.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Students from in state pay about $13,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,550 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,340 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $60,151 early in their careers. Set against $24,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Connecticut State University earned it the #4 place for liberal arts general studies. Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willimantic. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,928, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $25,373 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $41,870. Set against $25,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,442, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Students borrow a median of $26,625 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $36,168. Set against $26,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $44,240. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #7 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $61,133. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Bridgeport ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,760. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $35,340 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $43,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Wesleyan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $39,764. Set against $16,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Goodwin College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Goodwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of East Hartford. Students from in state pay about $21,188 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,611 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Goodwin College generally make around $52,724. Set against $35,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Hartford ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $6,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $26,244. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $49,615. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Sacred Heart University earned the #13 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,404. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $62,864. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
