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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

216 Ranked Colleges
107,517 Degrees Awarded
$3,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 365,980 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.

Across the Southeast region, there were 117,026 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 107,517 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,631 and $18,547 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 216 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts programs, but they also 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 liberal arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hillsborough Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Hillsborough Community College is a fairly large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 3,253 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

HCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend HCC is $3,203 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full HCC Liberal Arts Report

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State College at Jacksonville. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. FSCJ is located in Jacksonville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,579 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FSCJ, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $2,126 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Full FSCJ Liberal Arts Report

#3

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Petersburg College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St Petersburg College is a large public school situated in Clearwater, Florida. It awarded 3,098 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SPC also took the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SPC is $1,454 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SPC Liberal Arts Report

#4

Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee, Florida
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 216 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tallahassee Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Tallahassee Community College is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,554 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tallahassee Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $2,725 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tallahassee Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Tallahassee Community College

#5

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indian River State College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Indian River State College is a fairly large school located in Fort Pierce, Florida that handed out 2,032 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Indian River State College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $1,402 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indian River State College.

Full Indian River State College Liberal Arts Report

#6

Valencia College

Orlando, Florida
#4 in overall quality

Valencia College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 7,122 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Valencia College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $4,870 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Valencia College

#7

Cleveland Community College

Shelby, North Carolina

Cleveland Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Shelby, North Carolina, and it awarded 161 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,073 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cleveland Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Cleveland Community College

#8

Florida Gateway College

Lake City, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

Florida Gateway College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FGC is a small public school situated in Lake City, Florida. It awarded 378 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

FGC excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Florida Gateway College is $822 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Florida Gateway College

#9 in overall quality

University of Central Florida came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Central Florida is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 371 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCF also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Florida is $6,211 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at UCF

#10

Pensacola State College

Pensacola, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Pensacola State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pensacola State is a public institution located in Pensacola, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,211 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pensacola State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Pensacola State is $2,182 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Pensacola State College

#11

Pasco-Hernando State College

New Port Richey, Florida
#22 in overall quality

Pasco-Hernando State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in New Port Richey, Florida, and it awarded 1,403 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

PHSC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $3,819 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend PHSC.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at PHSC

#12

North Florida College

Madison, Florida
Top 20% in overall quality

North Florida College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Madison, Florida, this small public school awarded 168 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, NFC is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for North Florida College is $1,610 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at NFC

#13

Florida SouthWestern State College

Fort Myers, Florida
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FSW is a fairly large school located in Fort Myers, Florida that handed out 2,004 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

FSW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for FSW is $6,947 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Florida SouthWestern State College Liberal Arts Report

#14

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, North Carolina
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wake Technical Community College is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,502 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wake Technical Community College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wake Technical Community College is $4,607 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Wake Technical Community College

#15

Trident Technical College

Charleston, South Carolina

With a ranking of #15, Trident Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Trident Technical College is located in Charleston, South Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 447 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Trident Technical College is $-584 for southeast region associate degree liberal 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 Liberal Arts at Trident Technical College

#16

Miami Dade College

Miami, Florida
#14 in overall quality

Miami Dade College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school awarded 9,082 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

MDC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $4,471 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami Dade College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Miami Dade College

#17 in overall quality

Eastern Florida State College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cocoa, Florida, and it awarded 2,275 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at EFSC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Florida State College is $4,806 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Eastern Florida State College Liberal Arts Report

#18

Chipola College

Marianna, Florida

Chipola College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Marianna, Florida, this small public school handed out 258 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Chipola is $2,076 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Chipola

#19

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
#11 in overall quality

Central Piedmont Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 1,353 students in 2019-2020.

Central Piedmont Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Central Piedmont Community College is $5,937 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Central Piedmont Community College

#20

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina
Top 15% in overall quality

Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FTCC is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 296 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

FTCC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,126 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at FTCC

Wallace Community College, Dothan did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Dothan, Alabama, and it awarded 30 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Wallace, Dothan is $1,383 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Wallace Community College, Dothan

#22

Northwest Florida State College

Niceville, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

Northwest Florida State College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Niceville, Florida, and it awarded 815 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, NWFSC is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend NWFSC is $3,542 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northwest Florida State College Liberal Arts Report

#23

South Florida State College

Avon Park, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

South Florida State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. South Florida State College is located in Avon Park, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 267 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, South Florida State College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for South Florida State College is $6,287 for Southeast Region Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full South Florida State College Liberal Arts Report

#24

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, Florida
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Palm Beach State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lake Worth, Florida, this large public school handed out 3,907 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Palm Beach State College also took the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $1,594 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Palm Beach State College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Palm Beach State College

#6 in overall quality

Seminole State College of Florida landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Sanford, Florida, and it awarded 1,957 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Seminole State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $7,006 for southeast region associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Seminole State College of Florida.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Seminole State

Rest of the Best 33 in Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#27

Durham Technical Community College

Durham, North Carolina
#28

Lake-Sumter State College

Leesburg, Florida
#30

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Salisbury, North Carolina
#31

Georgia Highlands College

Rome, Georgia
#32

Pellissippi State Community College

Knoxville, Tennessee
#33

Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, South Carolina

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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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