Most Affordable Liberal Arts Schools

While cost may not be the deciding factor when choosing a liberal arts school, it remains an important consideration that can significantly affect your future finances. Here we rank the most affordable schools currently on the market with the help of our impartial methodology. Find the school that is right for you.  

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20 of 163

#1 in Most Affordable Schools | #18 in Liberal Arts

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

Economic score 2.18

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $2,601

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $43,150

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Most Affordable Schools | #24 in Liberal Arts

New College of Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Economic score 2.54

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,091

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $48,082

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Most Affordable Schools | #140 in Liberal Arts
Economic score 9.05

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,536

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,325

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Most Affordable Schools | #80 in Liberal Arts
Economic score 4.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $10,541

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,919

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Most Affordable Schools | #11 in Liberal Arts

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Economic score 1.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,780

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,971

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Most Affordable Schools | #13 in Liberal Arts

Washington College

Chestertown, Maryland

Economic score 1.88

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,606

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,518

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Most Affordable Schools | #138 in Liberal Arts
Economic score 8.34

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,637

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $44,030

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 64%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Most Affordable Schools | #57 in Liberal Arts

Georgetown College

Georgetown, Kentucky

Economic score 3.87

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,522

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,074

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 53%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Most Affordable Schools | #3 in Liberal Arts

Colby College

Waterville, Maine

Economic score 1.37

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,507

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,490

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Most Affordable Schools | #139 in Liberal Arts

Salem College

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Economic score 8.36

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,717

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $44,640

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 67%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Most Affordable Schools | #46 in Liberal Arts

Albion College

Albion, Michigan

Economic score 3.44

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,331

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,799

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Most Affordable Schools | #150 in Liberal Arts

Bethany Lutheran College

Mankato, Minnesota

Economic score 13.82

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,362

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,110

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 61%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Most Affordable Schools | #105 in Liberal Arts

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois

Economic score 5.66

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,512

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,575

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Most Affordable Schools | #147 in Liberal Arts

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams, Massachusetts

Economic score 11.55

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,630

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $48,102

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Most Affordable Schools | #128 in Liberal Arts

Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Economic score 7.12

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,682

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,584

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Most Affordable Schools | #31 in Liberal Arts

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Economic score 2.76

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,772

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,830

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Most Affordable Schools | #4 in Liberal Arts

Pomona College

Claremont, California

Economic score 1.41

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,084

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $77,779

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Most Affordable Schools | #103 in Liberal Arts

Franklin College

Franklin, Indiana

Economic score 5.59

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,419

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,376

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Most Affordable Schools | #7 in Liberal Arts

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, Maine

Economic score 1.52

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,533

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,735

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Most Affordable Schools | #79 in Liberal Arts

Lycoming College

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.54

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,549

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,210

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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