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2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

81 Ranked Colleges
9,597 Degrees Awarded
$3,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 133,583 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 14,268 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 9,597 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 81 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. 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 General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Moraine Valley Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 296 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

MVCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Moraine Valley Community College is $340 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Moraine Valley Community College General Studies Report

#2

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 750 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Oakland Community College has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $-51 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Read more about General Studies at Oakland Community College

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 175 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wilbur Wright College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wilbur Wright College is $2,127 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College General Studies Report

#4

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Grayslake, Illinois, and it awarded 31 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, College of Lake County has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $3,742 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full College of Lake County General Studies Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 108 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Harold Washington College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is $2,452 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College General Studies Report

#6

Delta College

University Center, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Delta College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 688 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Delta College also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $1,822 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Delta College.

Read full report on General Studies at Delta College

#7

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

College of DuPage landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. College of DuPage is a public institution located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 138 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

COD also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of DuPage is $5,478 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at College of DuPage

#8

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Waubonsee Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 73 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Waubonsee also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,818 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waubonsee Community College.

Read full report on General Studies at Waubonsee Community College

#9

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

William Rainey Harper College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 98 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harper College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William Rainey Harper College is $5,913 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Harper College

#10

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 96 diplomas to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

LLCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for LLCC is $3,915 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full LLCC General Studies Report

#11

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Triton College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in River Grove, Illinois, and it awarded 125 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Triton College also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Triton College is $4,546 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Triton College General Studies Report

#12

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 174 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Joliet Junior College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,699 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Joliet Junior College.

Full Joliet Junior College General Studies Report

#13

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 331 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $3,185 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Kalamazoo Valley Community College General Studies Report

#21 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harry S Truman College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 77 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Harry S Truman College also took the #21 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harry S Truman College is $4,404 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Studies at Harry S Truman College

#25 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Malcolm X College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 129 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Malcolm X College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is $3,251 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Malcolm X College

#16

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

South Suburban College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SSC is a small school located in South Holland, Illinois that handed out 11 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SSC is $3,866 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SSC General Studies Report

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 38 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $3,756 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Cincinnati State

#18

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 130 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $2,460 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Henry Ford College General Studies Report

#19

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Moline, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend BHC is $3,234 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Studies at BHC

#20

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Oakton Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Oakton Community College also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Oakton Community College is $5,195 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Oakton Community College

#21

Carl Sandburg College

Galesburg, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Carl Sandburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 191 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $1,986 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carl Sandburg College.

Read full report on General Studies at Carl Sandburg College

#22

Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Washtenaw Community College is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 333 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Washtenaw Community College is $266 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Studies at Washtenaw Community College

#23

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Grand Rapids Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 334 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand Rapids Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Rapids Community College is $6,668 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Studies at Grand Rapids Community College

#24

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Illinois Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in East Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 202 diplomas to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

ICC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Central College is $7,656 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full ICC General Studies Report

#25

Danville Area Community College

Danville, Illinois

Danville Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Danville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for DACC is $4,416 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Danville Area Community College General Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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