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2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

81 Ranked Colleges
9,597 Degrees Awarded
$5,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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” ranking looked at 81 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 750 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $2,825 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Oakland Community College

#2

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Joliet Junior College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 174 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree general studies students list, Joliet Junior College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at Joliet Junior College

#3

Macomb Community College

Warren, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macomb Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Macomb Community College is a public institution located in Warren, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 690 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Macomb Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macomb Community College is $8,724 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Macomb Community College

#4

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lincoln Land Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 96 students in 2019-2020.

LLCC also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $6,168 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students per year to attend Lincoln Land Community College.

Full Lincoln Land Community College General Studies Report

#5

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Moraine Valley Community College 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. It costs about $2,422 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students per year to attend MVCC.

Full MVCC General Studies Report

#6

Delta College

University Center, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Delta College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delta College is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 688 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Delta College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Delta College is $3,629 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at Delta College

#7

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

College of Lake County landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Full College of Lake County General Studies Report

#8

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, College of DuPage did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and it awarded 138 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree general studies students list, COD has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,566 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students per year to attend College of DuPage.

Full COD General Studies Report

#9

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Grand Rapids Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 334 students in 2019-2020.

Grand Rapids Community College also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Rapids Community College is $8,684 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students.

Full Grand Rapids Community College General Studies Report

#10

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Illinois Central College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in East Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 202 diplomas to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

ICC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,578 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students per year to attend Illinois Central College.

Full ICC General Studies Report

#11

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Triton College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Triton College is a medium-sized school located in River Grove, Illinois that handed out 125 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Triton College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Triton College is $4,988 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Full Triton College General Studies Report

#12

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 98 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harper College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for William Rainey Harper College is $7,532 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Harper College

#13

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a medium-sized school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 331 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $4,802 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 38 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State is $5,469 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree general studies students list, Harold Washington College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,992 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students per year to attend Harold Washington College.

Read full report on General Studies at Harold Washington College

#16

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. 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 made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $5,130 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students per year to attend Waubonsee.

Full Waubonsee Community College General Studies Report

#17

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, South Suburban College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in South Holland, Illinois, and it awarded 11 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SSC also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,746 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students per year to attend SSC.

Full South Suburban College General Studies Report

#18

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Oakton Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Des Plaines, Illinois, and it awarded 7 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakton Community College also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakton Community College is $6,141 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Oakton Community College

#19

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 ranking, coming in at #19. DACC is a public institution located in Danville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 56 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for DACC is $5,399 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Full DACC General Studies Report

Marion Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Marion, Ohio, and it awarded 63 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend MTC is $6,137 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about General Studies at Marion Technical College

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. 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.

Wilbur Wright College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is $2,876 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Wilbur Wright College

#22

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, Michigan

With a ranking of #22, Schoolcraft College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Schoolcraft College is located in Livonia, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 409 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Schoolcraft College is $7,578 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

Full Schoolcraft College General Studies Report

#23

Mott Community College

Flint, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Mott Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 387 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Mott Community College is $7,481 for great lakes region associate degree general studies students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on General Studies at MCC

#24

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. BHC is a public institution located in Moline, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Black Hawk College is $5,706 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at BHC

#25

Carl Sandburg College

Galesburg, Illinois

With a ranking of #25, Carl Sandburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region 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 $2,792 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree General Studies students per year to attend Carl Sandburg College.

Full Carl Sandburg 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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