2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $30-$48k)
1,014
Ranked Colleges
556,813
Degrees Awarded
$4,900
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
With 556,813 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts / sciences and humanities is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 1,014 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $30-$48k)
Out of the 1,014 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 157 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $4,777 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 100%.
Full UChicago Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Pennsylvania is $1,938 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UPenn
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Johns Hopkins is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Johns Hopkins, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Johns Hopkins is $4,859 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Johns Hopkins
Out of the 1,014 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Dartmouth College landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Hanover, New Hampshire, and it awarded 24 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dartmouth, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dartmouth College is $8,718 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Dartmouth
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgetown University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgetown, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Georgetown University is $9,871 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Georgetown Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Central New Mexico Community College is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,698 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CNM is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $3,059 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Central New Mexico Community College
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school awarded 470 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
USF Tampa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It costs about $5,632 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USF Tampa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full USF Tampa Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Middletown, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Wesleyan U also took the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,475 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wesleyan U.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Wesleyan University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Golden West College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Huntington Beach, California, this fairly large public school handed out 4,346 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
Golden West College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $4,414 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Golden West College
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,599 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Harold Washington College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is $3,200 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Harold Washington College
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, U-M also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 96%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $5,729 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 225 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $7,061 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 / Sciences & Humanities at Indiana University - Bloomington
Oakland Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 811 students in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Oakland Community College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $2,762 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Oakland Community College
South Texas College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Texas College is a large school located in McAllen, Texas that handed out 1,429 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,783 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at South Texas College
Brigham Young University - Idaho ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. BYU - I is a large school located in Rexburg, Idaho that handed out 1,598 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
BYU - I also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. It costs about $3,357 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BYU - I.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Brigham Young University - Idaho Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Metropolitan Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. MCC is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 568 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
MCC excels when it comes to liberal arts / sciences and humanities quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $3,257 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at MCC
Ventura College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Ventura College is a fairly large public school situated in Ventura, California. It awarded 1,949 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,269 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ventura College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Ventura College
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 145 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State LA is $2,701 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at California State University - Los Angeles
Indian River State College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indian River State College is a fairly large school located in Fort Pierce, Florida that handed out 1,841 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,595 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indian River State College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Indian River State College
Suffolk County Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Selden, New York, and it awarded 1,784 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Suffolk County Community College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $4,212 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Suffolk County Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Suffolk County Community College
MiraCosta College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,875 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,861 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MiraCosta College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at MiraCosta College
West Valley College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. West Valley College is located in Saratoga, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 678 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
West Valley College excels when it comes to liberal arts / sciences and humanities quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for West Valley College is $3,654 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at West Valley College
North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. North Carolina State University is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 51 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for NC State is $9,448 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full NC State Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Palm Beach State College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Palm Beach State College is located in Lake Worth, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,062 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, Palm Beach State College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools” list. 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 $9,727 for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Palm Beach State College
