2026 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Utah
[Liberal Arts General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 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 Utah
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
Salt Lake Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools in Utah. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Students borrow a median of $7,313 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $35,804. That is a strong return on a $7,313 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Snow College earned it the #2 place for liberal arts general studies. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $6,521. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $21,687. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $15,729 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $36,228. Set against $15,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts general studies will find it at Latter Day Saints Business College, which ranked #4. Latter Day Saints Business College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,004. Median earnings reach $50,630 ten years out.
Weber State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,208 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $37,015. Set against $17,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Utah University earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $10,667. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $30,036. That is a strong return on a $10,667 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Utah State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $15,959 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $29,916 early in their careers. Set against $15,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #8 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $54,507. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Dixie State College Of Utah ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Students borrow a median of $8,434 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $26,493 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,434 median debt.
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
