2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies School for You
In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees and certificates were awarded to liberal arts general studies students, making the major the most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,148 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for liberal arts students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Liberal Arts General Studies
Our 2023 rankings named Haskell Indian Nations University the best value school in the United States for liberal arts general studies students. Haskell is a fairly small public school located in the city of Lawrence.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico Junior College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. Located in the remote town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 a year. Liberal Arts majors at New Mexico Junior College take out an average of $6,495 in student loans while working on their egree.
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The excellent programs at Southeast Community College Area helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the United States. Southeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.
Southeast Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,780 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Southeast Community College take out an average of $11,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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The excellent programs at American Public University System helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the United States. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at American Military University are $7,360 per year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from American Military University carry an average student debtload of $5,688.
American Military University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Highland Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. Located in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Highland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,570 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Highland Community College take out an average of $11,728 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Columbia Southern University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts general studies programs. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Orange Beach.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia Southern University are $5,775 per year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Columbia Southern University take out $15,714 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Columbia Southern University also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Leech Lake Tribal College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the rural area of Cass Lake, Leech Lake Tribal College is a public college with a small student population.
Leech Lake Tribal College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,926 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Leech Lake Tribal College Report
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Metropolitan Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. MCC is a large public school located in the city of Omaha.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $4,680 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from MCC carry an average student debtload of $9,053.
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North Hennepin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 a year. On average, liberal arts graduates from North Hennepin Community College take out $15,625 in student loans while working on their degree.
North Hennepin Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at North Hennepin Community College Report
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $5,515 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus take out is $13,000.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Report
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Johnson County Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. JCCC is a large public school located in the city of Overland Park.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at JCCC are $5,352 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at JCCC accumulate an average of around $10,000 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, JCCC is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list.
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With a ranking of #12, Collin County Community College District did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the medium-sized suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.
Collin County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $5,104 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Collin County Community College District take out $10,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Collin County Community College District also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Collin County Community College District Report
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Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #13 on the list. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the midsize city of Rochester.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at Rochester Community and Technical College accumulate an average of around $15,500 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $5,874 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at St Cloud Technical and Community College accumulate an average of around $14,250 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, NMSU Carlsbad is a public school with a small student population.
NMSU Carlsbad undergraduate students pay an average of $4,008 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from NMSU Carlsbad take out $11,832 in student loans while working on their degree.
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NorthWest Arkansas Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts general studies programs. NWACC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bentonville.
NWACC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,456 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at NWACC take out an average of $9,407 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at NorthWest Arkansas Community College Report
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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public college with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 a year. On average, liberal arts graduates from UWM Flexible Option take out $11,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Normandale Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Normandale Community College are $5,789 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Normandale Community College take out is $12,620.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Normandale Community College also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Normandale Community College Report
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With a ranking of #19, Cascadia College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Cascadia College is a small public school located in the suburb of Bothell.
Cascadia College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,768 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Cascadia College carry an average student debtload of $6,849.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Cascadia College Report
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South Seattle College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #19 on the list. South Seattle is a small public school located in the large city of Seattle.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Seattle are $4,831 per year.
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With a ranking of #21, Northland Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Northland Community and Technical College are $6,052 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Northland Community and Technical College take out is $13,200.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Northland Community and Technical College Report
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With a ranking of #22, Garden City Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the remote town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Garden City Community College are $4,020 a year. Liberal Arts majors at Garden City Community College take out an average of $6,476 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Century College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 per year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Century College take out $14,376 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Century College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Century College Report
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Central Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,590 per year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Central Community College take out $8,466 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Central Community College Report
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Cloud County Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.
Cloud County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,570 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Cloud County Community College take out $10,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Remaining Award Winners
This section represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 1148 different United States liberal arts general studies schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools award.
Liberal Arts General Studies by Region
View the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools for a specific region near you.
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| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
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More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
Liberal Arts General Studies Related Majors for Liberal Arts
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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.
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