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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

68 Ranked Colleges
5,583 Degrees Awarded
$8,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 365,980 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts is the 2nd most popular major in the United States.

Across the Southeast region, there were 117,026 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,583 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 68 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools

The liberal studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 26 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 242 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USF Tampa, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $3,950 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Liberal Arts Report

#2

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 68 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #2 spot on the list. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

NC State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $7,285 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NC State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at North Carolina State University

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida International University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FIU is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 368 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $5,002 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at FIU

#4

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Kentucky University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northern Kentucky University is a fairly large school located in Highland Heights, Kentucky that handed out 92 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, NKU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NKU is $4,156 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at NKU

#5

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, Virginia
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Richmond. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. URichmond is located in University of Richmond, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at URichmond, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for URichmond is $9,112 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Richmond Liberal Arts Report

#6

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida
#17 in overall quality

Florida Atlantic University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, this large public school handed out 73 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

FAU also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $6,085 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FAU.

Full Florida Atlantic University Liberal Arts Report

#7

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
#11 in overall quality

Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Murfreesboro, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 121 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Middle Tennessee State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $8,919 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Liberal Arts Report

#8

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 144 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Greensboro, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNC Greensboro is $8,853 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#9

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#9 in overall quality

West Virginia University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WVU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend West Virginia University is $9,213 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full West Virginia University Liberal Arts Report

#10

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana
#22 in overall quality

McNeese State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. McNeese State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It awarded 3 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

McNeese also took the #22 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,892 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend McNeese.

Read more about Liberal Arts at McNeese

#11

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #11, Fayetteville State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fayetteville State University is a public institution located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fayetteville State University is $4,330 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Fayetteville State University Liberal Arts Report

#12

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#25 in overall quality

University of Georgia ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Georgia is a public institution located in Athens, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $7,541 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at UGA

#13

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NC A&T is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 178 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for NC A&T is $7,493 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full North Carolina A & T State University Liberal Arts Report

#14

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Appalachian State University is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 11 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $7,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Appalachian State Liberal Arts Report

#15

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, East Carolina University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. ECU is a large school located in Greenville, North Carolina that handed out 251 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, ECU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Carolina University is $11,026 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full ECU Liberal Arts Report

#16

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
#10 in overall quality

University of South Carolina - Columbia came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is located in Columbia, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

UofSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UofSC is $12,426 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at UofSC

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a small school located in Tifton, Georgia that handed out 1 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ABAC Tifton is $4,838 for southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at ABAC Tifton

#18

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky
#24 in overall quality

Murray State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Murray State is a medium-sized school located in Murray, Kentucky that handed out 9 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Murray State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Murray State University is $8,839 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Murray State

#19

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
#2 in overall quality

James Madison University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, this large public school awarded 290 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

JMU also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend JMU is $14,196 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at James Madison University

#20

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Asheville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. University of North Carolina at Asheville is located in Asheville, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,063 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNCA.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at UNCA

#18 in overall quality

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Louisiana State University is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Louisiana State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Louisiana State University is $8,433 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Louisiana State University Liberal Arts Report

#22

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#3 in overall quality

George Mason University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and it awarded 82 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

GMU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,204 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend GMU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at GMU

#23

Clayton State University

Morrow, Georgia
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Clayton State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Morrow, Georgia, this medium-sized public school awarded 91 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Clayton State University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,227 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Clayton State University.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Clayton State University

Middle Georgia State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Macon, Georgia, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Middle Georgia State University is $8,673 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Middle Georgia State University Liberal Arts Report

#25

Longwood University

Farmville, Virginia
#8 in overall quality

Longwood University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Longwood University is located in Farmville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 121 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Longwood also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $14,704 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Longwood.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Longwood

#25

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

University of Mary Washington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. UMW is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 83 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

UMW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $12,988 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMW.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of Mary Washington

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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