Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Colleges for General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

39 Ranked Colleges
2,959 Degrees Awarded
$4,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 133,583 general studies students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country.

Across Illinois, there were 2,959 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 39 colleges that offered a degree 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank General Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 16 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,800 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UChicago General Studies Report

#2

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Moraine Valley Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. MVCC is a fairly large school located in Palos Hills, Illinois that handed out 296 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MVCC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MVCC is $1,513 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Moraine Valley Community College General Studies Report

#3

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Lake County landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Grayslake, Illinois, and it awarded 31 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

College of Lake County also made our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,136 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full College of Lake County General Studies Report

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 175 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Wilbur Wright College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $3,204 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College.

Full Wilbur Wright College General Studies Report

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #5 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

Harold Washington College also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harold Washington College is $3,155 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Harold Washington College

#6

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

William Rainey Harper College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 98 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Harper College also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William Rainey Harper College is $6,497 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full William Rainey Harper College General Studies Report

#7

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

College of DuPage did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. COD is a large public school situated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It awarded 138 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

COD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for COD is $6,455 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at College of DuPage

#8

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln Land Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. LLCC is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 96 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

LLCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend LLCC is $4,819 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at LLCC

#9

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois

Waubonsee Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Waubonsee is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Waubonsee did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Waubonsee is $3,432 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at Waubonsee

#10

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois

Triton College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Triton College is a medium-sized public school situated in River Grove, Illinois. It awarded 125 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Triton College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Triton College is $4,579 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Triton College General Studies Report

#11

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 174 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $4,134 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Joliet Junior College.

Read full report on General Studies at Joliet Junior College

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 129 students in 2019-2020.

Malcolm X College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is $3,784 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Malcolm X College

#13

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Suburban College is located in South Holland, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SSC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Suburban College is $5,169 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at SSC

#14

Carl Sandburg College

Galesburg, Illinois

Carl Sandburg College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Galesburg, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 191 students in 2019-2020.

Carl Sandburg College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $1,963 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Carl Sandburg College.

Read full report on General Studies at Carl Sandburg College

#17 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 77 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Harry S Truman College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is $4,468 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Harry S Truman College General Studies Report

#16

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Black Hawk College is a small public school situated in Moline, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

BHC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Black Hawk College is $4,827 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full BHC General Studies Report

#17

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois

Oakton Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Oakton Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakton Community College is $5,985 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Oakton Community College

City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Olive-Harvey College is $5,246 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Olive-Harvey College General Studies Report

#19

Kankakee Community College

Kankakee, Illinois

Kankakee Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kankakee Community College is a small public school situated in Kankakee, Illinois. It awarded 30 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Kankakee Community College also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kankakee Community College is $6,045 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Kankakee Community College General Studies Report

City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 28 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,764 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College.

Read more about General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College

City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,294 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Richard J Daley College.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College General Studies Report

#22

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Illinois Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. ICC is a medium-sized school located in East Peoria, Illinois that handed out 202 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

ICC also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ICC is $8,527 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at ICC

With a ranking of #23, Illinois Valley Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois Valley Community College is a public institution located in Oglesby, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for IVCC is $5,682 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at Illinois Valley Community College

#24

McHenry County College

Crystal Lake, Illinois

McHenry County College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and it awarded 33 ’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

MCC also made our “Best General Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for McHenry County College is $6,143 for illinois general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at MCC

#25

Shawnee Community College

Ullin, Illinois

With a ranking of #25, Shawnee Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ullin, Illinois, this small public school awarded 57 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Shawnee Community College is $10,417 for Illinois General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Shawnee Community College General Studies Report

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.

Featured Liberal Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You