2026 Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 2221 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Montana State University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Bozeman, MT. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Typical Liberal Arts And General Studies student debt is $19,268. Montana State University alumni report median earnings of $53,263 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,268 median debt. Montana State University has an acceptance rate of 82%. See the full Montana State University profile
Southern Methodist University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies ranking in the United States. Based in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Typical Liberal Arts And General Studies student debt is $20,712. Median earnings reach $78,354 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Southern Methodist University has an acceptance rate of 63%. Get the full Southern Methodist University report
You'll get strong value at Georgetown University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. The median Liberal Arts And General Studies program debt is $25,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $103,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Georgetown University report
You'll get strong value at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Typical Liberal Arts And General Studies student debt is $17,577. New Mexico State University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $39,067 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 89%. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Main Campus
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #5 on this year's best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies ranking in the United States. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school based in Columbus, OH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. The median Liberal Arts And General Studies program debt is $17,625. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $60,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 61% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
George Mason University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Based in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. George Mason University alumni report median earnings of $76,343 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%. See the full George Mason University profile
Johns Hopkins University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Set in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Johns Hopkins University Liberal Arts And General Studies students take on a median of $13,426 in debt. Johns Hopkins University alumni report median earnings of $87,555 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Johns Hopkins University
University Of Louisville came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Set in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. The median Liberal Arts And General Studies program debt is $27,001. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,899. Set against $27,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville has an acceptance rate of 79%. See the full University Of Louisville profile
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Tulane University Of Louisiana Liberal Arts And General Studies students take on a median of $22,077 in debt. Median earnings reach $63,268 ten years out. Set against $22,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%. More on Tulane University Of Louisiana
Allen County Community College placed #10 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Allen County Community College
Butler University placed #11 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. See the full Butler University profile
California State University Sacramento came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on California State University Sacramento
Centenary College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read more about Centenary College
Cornell University placed #14 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cornell University
Culver Stockton College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on Culver Stockton College
Drake University
Drake University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read the full report on Drake University
Herzing University Winter Park offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about Herzing University Winter Park
Irvine Valley College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. More on Irvine Valley College
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
Morris Brown College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Morris Brown College
Murray State College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Murray State College
Salem College
Salem College placed #22 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. See the full Salem College profile
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Santa Fe College
Temple College
Temple College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. More on Temple College
Temple University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Get the full Temple University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
The New School
The New School offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on The New School
College Of Central Florida landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about College Of Central Florida
Concord University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Get the full Concord University report
De Anza College
De Anza College came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full De Anza College report
Fordham University placed #30 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. More on Fordham University
Grays Harbor College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on Grays Harbor College
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read more about Metropolitan Community College Kansas City
Mississippi University For Women placed #33 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Mississippi University For Women report
Redlands Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Redlands Community College
Simpson University placed #35 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Simpson University
Skyline College
Skyline College placed #36 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Skyline College report
Sul Ross State University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read more about Sul Ross State University
Westfield State University placed #38 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Westfield State University
White Mountains Community College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Read more about White Mountains Community College
York County Community College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on York County Community College
Anna Maria College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Anna Maria College profile
College Of Lake County offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about College Of Lake County
Grambling State University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Grambling State University report
Hazard Community And Technical College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Hazard Community And Technical College
Highland Community College Highland came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Highland Community College Highland profile
Las Positas College offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Las Positas College profile
Marietta College
Marietta College placed #47 among the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools in the United States. See the full Marietta College profile
Mcdowell Technical Community College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Get the full Mcdowell Technical Community College report
Montcalm Community College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. More on Montcalm Community College
Morgan State University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts And General Studies schools. Get the full Morgan State University report
Related Liberal Arts And General Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts And General Studies Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2221 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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