Skip to main content

Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges Under $20,000

Programs with net price under $20,000. See our methodology.

The City University of New York system delivers some of the nation's most affordable Liberal Arts and Sciences education, with four CUNY schools offering net costs below $3,500 annually. Baruch College stands out with graduates earning $36,852 median salary while maintaining a net cost of just $2,978. This accessibility matters in today's economy where liberal arts graduates fill critical roles across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and media companies that value critical thinking and communication skills. The contrast between costs tells an interesting story: while most public institutions charge between $6,000-$7,500 in tuition, actual student costs after aid range from $1,113 at Texas A&M University-Central Texas to $4,536 at New College of Florida. Berea College offers a unique model with its $49,326 sticker price dropping to $4,483 net cost through its work-study program. These programs prepare students for careers that increasingly value adaptability and broad knowledge, particularly in sectors like education, social services, and public administration where liberal arts training provides essential analytical and writing capabilities.
50
Programs
$1,113 – $7,360
Net Price Range
$28,585
Avg. Program Earnings
41.7%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $1,113 $6,627 95.7%
2 $2,065 $2,684 11.5%
3 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
4 $2,978 $7,464 72.1% 49.5%
5 $3,046 $7,470 55.5% 50.7%
6 $3,138 $7,696 50.0% 63.8%
7 $3,455 $4,010 23.9%
8 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
9 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
10 $3,613 $4,420 30.6%
11 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
12 $4,113 $6,813 52.6% 86.9%
13 $4,483 $49,326 62.0% 24.6%
14 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
15 $4,536 $6,916 61.8% 75.4%
16 $4,812 $5,460 47.7%
17 $5,115 $7,490 32.8%
18 $5,144 $2,570 20.7%
19 $5,216 $6,400 32.6%
20 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
21 $5,646 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
22 $5,671 $7,826 58.0% 96.6%
23 $5,719 $2,982 27.3%
24 $5,825 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%
25 $5,881 $7,352 22.3% 87.7%
26 $5,918 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
27 $5,970 $8,179 36.9% 80.3%
28 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
29 $6,007 $7,001 25.6% 45.0%
30 $6,061 $3,195 29.1% 67.0%
31 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
32 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
33 $6,276 $8,179 44.7% 85.8%
34 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
35 $6,352 $7,200 33.3% 74.2%
36 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
37 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
38 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
39 $6,507 $5,324 52.5% 51.6%
40 $6,602 $37,143 26.3% 83.0%
41 $6,608 $10,646 46.4% 80.0%
42 $6,746 $7,203 50.0% 68.9%
43 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
44 $6,935 $2,336 31.4%
45 $7,075 $4,714
46 $7,131 $4,656 55.1% 95.6%
47 $7,168 $10,896 48.3% 86.0%
48 $7,201 $3,106 41.2%
49 $7,233 $6,960 31.0% 62.7%
50 $7,360 $3,969 35.2% 81.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge cost difference between CUNY schools and other public universities?

CUNY schools like Hunter College and Baruch College charge around $7,400 in tuition but provide substantial financial aid that reduces net costs to under $3,000. This compares to California State Universities that charge similar tuition but result in net costs around $3,650-$4,100. The difference reflects New York's investment in need-based aid and CUNY's mission to serve working-class students.

How do graduation rates vary among these affordable programs?

Graduation rates span from 11.5% at Oglala Lakota College to 72.1% at CUNY Baruch College, reflecting different student populations and institutional resources. CUNY schools generally achieve 49-72% graduation rates despite serving many first-generation college students. Berea College reaches 62% while serving low-income students exclusively through its work-study model.

Is Liberal Arts and Sciences education worth it financially at these price points?

Graduates from these programs earn between $22,444 and $36,852 annually, with debt loads typically under $17,000. CUNY Baruch graduates earning $36,852 with $2,978 in annual costs show strong return on investment. Even lower-earning programs like New College of Florida at $22,444 make financial sense given the $4,536 annual cost and broad career flexibility.

Does acceptance rate indicate program quality in Liberal Arts and Sciences?

Acceptance rates range from 24.58% at Berea College to 95.71% at Texas A&M-Central Texas, but this reflects institutional mission rather than quality. Berea's selectivity stems from its unique work-study model and limited enrollment capacity. CUNY schools with 47-66% acceptance rates balance accessibility with academic standards, producing graduates who compete effectively in major metropolitan job markets.

Where do these affordable Liberal Arts programs provide the best geographic advantages?

New York City programs offer proximity to publishing, media, nonprofit, and government sectors that actively recruit liberal arts graduates. Texas A&M-Central Texas serves the growing Austin metro area where tech companies value liberal arts skills for communication and analysis roles. California State campuses in Los Angeles provide access to entertainment, education, and social services sectors seeking broadly trained professionals.

More Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Rankings

Cheapest Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Best Value Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Related

All Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.