The Best Public Liberal Arts Colleges

Though most liberal arts schools are private, there are a handful quality public liberal arts schools as well. Find below how they compare based on a student's return on educational investment and median earnings.

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10 Results

#1 in Public Schools | #16 in Liberal Arts

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, Virginia

Economic score 2.16

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 $21,215

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

Earnings $77,369

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

Graduation rate 84%

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 Public 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 Public Schools | #67 in Liberal Arts

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's City, Maryland

Economic score 4.13

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 $18,736

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

Earnings $60,110

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

Graduation rate 73%

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 Public Schools | #70 in Liberal Arts

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Economic score 4.29

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 $22,066

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

Earnings $60,613

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.

#5 in Public 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.

#6 in Public 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.

#7 in Public 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.

#8 in Public 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.

#9 in Public Schools | #148 in Liberal Arts

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, New York

Economic score 11.92

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 $19,598

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

Earnings $45,092

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.

CUNY Medgar Evers College

Brooklyn, New York

Economic score 3.25

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 $7,849

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

Earnings $46,498

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

Graduation rate 32%

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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