2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k)
1,102
Ranked Colleges
556,813
Degrees Awarded
$3,600
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 1,102 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 21 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duke has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Duke University is $371 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Duke
Out of the 1,102 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #2 spot on the list. Johns Hopkins is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 43 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Johns Hopkins also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Johns Hopkins is $2,084 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Johns Hopkins University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 157 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $2,500 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Chicago
Out of the 1,102 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #4 spot on the list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
UPenn also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $580 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UPenn.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full UPenn Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Georgetown University is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Georgetown also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Georgetown is $3,077 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full Georgetown Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Wesleyan University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wesleyan U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Middletown, Connecticut. It awarded 33 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Wesleyan U also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wesleyan University is $4,782 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wesleyan University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, U-M is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $2,670 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full U-M Liberal Arts General Studies Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 470 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
USF Tampa also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $4,176 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of South Florida - Main Campus
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 46 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNC Chapel Hill is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $3,753 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 51 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It costs about $7,283 for liberal arts 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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at NC State
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 4,698 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
CNM excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Central New Mexico Community College is $1,994 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full CNM Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, Golden West College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Golden West College is a fairly large public school situated in Huntington Beach, California. It awarded 4,346 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Golden West College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $3,094 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Golden West College
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 225 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
Oakland Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 811 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, Oakland Community College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $1,464 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,599 students in 2020-2021.
Harold Washington College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $2,045 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Harold Washington College.
Full Harold Washington College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,598 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
BYU - I excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend BYU - I is $2,073 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 General Studies at Brigham Young University - Idaho
Suffolk County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Suffolk County Community College is a public institution located in Selden, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,784 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Suffolk County Community College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $2,585 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Suffolk County Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Suffolk County Community College
American Public University System did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. American Military University is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,837 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
American Military University also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for American Military University is $9,660 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full American Military University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
West Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. West Valley College is a medium-sized school located in Saratoga, California that handed out 678 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, West Valley College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for West Valley College is $2,924 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at West Valley College
With a ranking of #20, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 261 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, IUPUI is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,026 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IUPUI.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full IUPUI Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #21, Central Texas College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Killeen, Texas, and it awarded 1,171 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Texas College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,491 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Texas College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Central Texas College
With a ranking of #22, Florida State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school awarded 296 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Florida State excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $4,950 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 General Studies at Florida State
South Texas College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 1,429 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,200 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full South Texas College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Nassau Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Nassau Community College is a fairly large school located in Garden City, New York that handed out 1,139 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Nassau Community College excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Nassau Community College is $2,197 for Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Nassau Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Palm Beach State College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Palm Beach State College is a public institution located in Lake Worth, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,062 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Palm Beach State College excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Palm Beach State College is $8,452 for liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Palm Beach State College
