2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 2221 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Grad Degree evaluated 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 Sciences Humanities Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Montana State University to be the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities school in the United States. Set in Bozeman, MT, Montana State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Students borrow a median of $19,268 to complete their Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,263 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,268 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants. Read more about Montana State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Methodist University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,040. Southern Methodist University Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $20,712 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,354 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Southern Methodist University has an acceptance rate of 63%. Read the full report on Southern Methodist University
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. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Typical Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities student 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. The acceptance rate is 13%. Read more about Georgetown University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place in the United States. Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. New Mexico State University Main Campus Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $17,577 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,067. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Main Campus
Out of the 2221 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #5 spot. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school based in Columbus, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $17,625. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,409 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
George Mason University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. George Mason University Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $24,500 in debt. Median earnings reach $76,343 ten years out. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants. More on George Mason University
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. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $13,426. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,555 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
University Of Louisville placed #8 among the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Located in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. The median Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities program debt is $27,001. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,899. That is a strong return on a $27,001 median debt. About 79% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Louisville report
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,678. Tulane University Of Louisiana Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities students take on a median of $22,077 in debt. Tulane University Of Louisiana alumni report median earnings of $63,268 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants. Read more about Tulane University Of Louisiana
Albertus Magnus College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read more about Albertus Magnus College
California Indian Nations College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Read the full report on California Indian Nations College
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #12 among the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. See the full Central Lakes College Brainerd profile
College Of Western Idaho ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Read the full report on College Of Western Idaho
Copper Mountain Community College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Copper Mountain Community College
Cuny Bronx Community College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Cuny Bronx Community College profile
Florida Atlantic University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Florida Atlantic University
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Get the full Northwestern State University Of Louisiana report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Schuylkill placed #18 among the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Schuylkill
Rocky Mountain College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. More on Rocky Mountain College
St Johns College Maryland landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full St Johns College Maryland profile
Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Tennessee State University
Texas College
Texas College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Texas College
Turtle Mountain Community College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Turtle Mountain Community College
Athens Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Athens Technical College
Blinn College
Blinn College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Blinn College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Blue Mountain College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Blue Mountain College
Clayton State University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Clayton State University
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham report
Fordham University landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Fordham University profile
Gannon University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Gannon University
Georgia Gwinnett College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. See the full Georgia Gwinnett College profile
Houston Baptist University landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Houston Baptist University
Kent State University At Stark offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on Kent State University At Stark
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Get the full Lincoln University Missouri report
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northwest Iowa Community College report
Oregon Coast Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. More on Oregon Coast Community College
Saginaw Valley State University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Saginaw Valley State University
South Texas College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on South Texas College
Southwest Collegiate Institute For The Deaf came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southwest Collegiate Institute For The Deaf report
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh report
White Earth Tribal And Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about White Earth Tribal And Community College
Bethel College Mishawaka landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Bethel College Mishawaka
Clark University
Clark University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Clark University
Dallas Christian College placed #44 among the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. More on Dallas Christian College
Desales University placed #45 among the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools in the United States. Get the full Desales University report
East Los Angeles College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Get the full East Los Angeles College report
Hampshire College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. Get the full Hampshire College report
Harvard University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Harvard University
Lynn University
Lynn University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Lynn University report
Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities schools. More on Northwest Arkansas Community College
Related Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.