2023 Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School for You
With 556,813 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts / sciences and humanities is the #3 most popular major in the United States.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 1,148 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
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. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Liberal Arts & Humanities
Our 2023 rankings named Haskell Indian Nations University the best value school in the United States for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the small city of Lawrence, Haskell is a public college with a small student population.
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Out of the 1,148 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico Junior College landed the # 2 spot on the list. New Mexico Junior College is a small public school located in the remote town of Hobbs.
New Mexico Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,280 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at New Mexico Junior College accumulate an average of around $6,495 in student debt.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Southeast Community College Area is a great value for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast 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 Southeast Community College are $3,780 a year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Southeast Community College take out $11,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Southeast Community College Area Report
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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 / sciences and humanities schools in the United States. Located in the fringe town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
American Military University undergraduate students pay an average of $7,360 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at American Military University accumulate an average of around $5,688 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, American Military University also did well on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Out of the 1,148 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Highland Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Highland Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Highland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Highland Community College are $3,570 per year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Highland Community College take out an average of $11,728 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #6, Columbia Southern University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Columbia Southern University are $5,775 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of around $15,714 in student debt.
Columbia Southern University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list.
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Leech Lake Tribal College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Leech Lake Tribal College is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Cass Lake.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Leech Lake Tribal College are $3,926 per year.
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Metropolitan Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Located in the city of Omaha, MCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $4,680 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at MCC take out is $9,053.
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With a ranking of #9, North Hennepin Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park.
North Hennepin Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,882 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at North Hennepin Community College accumulate an average of around $15,625 in student debt.
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 & Humanities Schools list.
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
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 / sciences and humanities majors at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus take out is $13,000.
In addition to its great value ranking, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list.
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Johnson County Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from JCCC carry an average student debtload of $10,000.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, JCCC also is in the top 15% of our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking.
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Collin County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #12 on the list. Collin County Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of McKinney.
Collin County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $5,104 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Collin County Community College District accumulate an average of around $10,000 in student debt.
Collin County Community College District also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Rochester Community and Technical College accumulate an average of around $15,500 in student debt.
Rochester Community and Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list.
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St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school located in the small city of Saint Cloud.
St Cloud Technical and Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,874 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from St Cloud Technical and Community College take out $14,250 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, St Cloud Technical and Community College also is in the top 15% of our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking.
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New Mexico State University - Carlsbad came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. NMSU Carlsbad is a small public school located in the rural area of Carlsbad.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NMSU Carlsbad are $4,008 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from NMSU Carlsbad carry an average student debtload of $11,832.
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NorthWest Arkansas Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Bentonville, NWACC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWACC are $4,456 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at NWACC accumulate an average of around $9,407 in student debt.
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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list. UWM Flexible Option is a small public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
UWM Flexible Option undergraduate students pay an average of $6,750 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at UWM Flexible Option take out is $11,000.
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With a ranking of #17, Normandale Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Bloomington.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Normandale Community College are $5,789 a year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Normandale Community College take out $12,620 in student loans while working on their degree.
Normandale Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list.
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Cascadia College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Bothell, Cascadia College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cascadia College are $4,768 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Cascadia College take out is $6,849.
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South Seattle College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the large city of Seattle, South Seattle is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Seattle are $4,831 a year.
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Northland Community and Technical College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Thief River Falls.
Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,052 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Northland Community and Technical College take out an average of $13,200 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Garden City Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Garden City Community College is a small public school located in the town of Garden City.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Garden City Community College are $4,020 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Garden City Community College take out $6,476 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Century College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Century College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake.
Century College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,907 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Century College accumulate an average of around $14,376 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, Century College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list.
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Central Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools ranking. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Grand Island.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Community College are $4,590 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Central Community College take out is $8,466.
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Cloud County Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools list. Located in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Cloud County Community College accumulate an average of around $10,000 in student debt.
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Additional Award Winners
This list represents the rest of the schools awarded a Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1148 different United States liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great value schools for Liberal Arts & Humanities students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools award.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities by Region
View the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Related Majors for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts General Studies | 556,813 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Visual & Performing Arts | 149,215 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
More about our data sources and methodologies.