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2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

53 Ranked Colleges
31,527 Degrees Awarded
$4,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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

Across California, there were 94,556 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 31,527 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 53 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in California (With Aid)

#1

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Pasadena City College landed the #1 spot on the list. Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,615 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pasadena City College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,920 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Pasadena City College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Pasadena City College

#2

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Golden West College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. Huntington Beach, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 1,672 students in 2019-2020.

Golden West College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $2,862 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Golden West College

#3

Chabot College

Hayward, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Chabot College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. Chabot College is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 407 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Chabot College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Chabot College is $4,192 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Chabot College

#4

Grossmont College

El Cajon, California
#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grossmont College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Grossmont College is a fairly large public school situated in El Cajon, California. It awarded 655 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Grossmont College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grossmont College is $2,897 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Grossmont College

#5

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Sequoias. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large public school situated in Visalia, California. It awarded 879 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $1,116 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at College of the Sequoias

#6

Ventura College

Ventura, California
#19 in overall quality

Ventura College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Ventura, California, and it awarded 773 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ventura College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $1,514 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Ventura College Liberal Arts Report

#7

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California
#13 in overall quality

Santa Ana College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Ana, California, this large public school handed out 237 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

SAC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Ana College is $3,801 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Santa Ana College

#8

Riverside City College

Riverside, California
#7 in overall quality

Riverside City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Riverside City College is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 502 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Riverside City College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,620 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Riverside City College.

Full Riverside City College Liberal Arts Report

#9

Palomar College

San Marcos, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Palomar College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Palomar College is located in San Marcos, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal studies students with aid list, Palomar College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,673 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Palomar College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Palomar College

#10

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, California
#17 in overall quality

Orange Coast College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Costa Mesa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 481 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal studies students with aid list, Orange Coast College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Orange Coast College is $3,178 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Orange Coast College Liberal Arts Report

#11

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, California
#12 in overall quality

Moreno Valley College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Moreno Valley, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 276 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Moreno Valley College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,633 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Moreno Valley College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Moreno Valley College

#12

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

Cerritos College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cerritos College is a large school located in Norwalk, California that handed out 228 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cerritos College is $4,022 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Cerritos College

#13

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, City College of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at City College of San Francisco, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,267 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend City College of San Francisco.

Read more about Liberal Arts at City College of San Francisco

#14

Los Angeles Pierce College

Woodland Hills, California
#2 in overall quality

Los Angeles Pierce College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Woodland Hills, California, this fairly large public school awarded 1,400 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Pierce College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Pierce College is $9,875 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Pierce College

#15

MiraCosta College

Oceanside, California
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, MiraCosta College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Oceanside, California, and it awarded 596 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal studies students with aid list, MiraCosta College has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MiraCosta College is $1,682 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full MiraCosta College Liberal Arts Report

#16

Norco College

Norco, California
#15 in overall quality

Norco College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Norco, California, this fairly large public school handed out 219 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Norco College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,099 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Norco College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Norco College

#17

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California
#16 in overall quality

Santa Barbara City College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 567 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SBCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Barbara City College is $7,556 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Full Santa Barbara City College Liberal Arts Report

#18

West Valley College

Saratoga, California
#22 in overall quality

West Valley College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Saratoga, California, and it awarded 232 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

West Valley College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for West Valley College is $3,791 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full West Valley College Liberal Arts Report

#19

Imperial Valley College

Imperial, California

Imperial Valley College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. IVC is located in Imperial, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 234 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $1,111 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Imperial Valley College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Imperial Valley College

#20

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California

With a ranking of #20, Rio Hondo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Whittier, California, and it awarded 490 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Rio Hondo College is $5,487 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Rio Hondo College

#21

Yuba College

Marysville, California

Yuba College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Marysville, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,555 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Yuba College.

Full Yuba College Liberal Arts Report

#22

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, California
#25 in overall quality

Saddleback College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 959 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Saddleback College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saddleback College is $4,246 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Saddleback College

#23

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, California

Los Medanos College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Los Medanos is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburg, California that handed out 330 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,162 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Los Medanos.

Full Los Medanos Liberal Arts Report

#24

El Camino College

Torrance, California
#6 in overall quality

El Camino College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Torrance, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 685 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at El Camino College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend El Camino College is $9,434 for California Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.

Full El Camino College Liberal Arts Report

#25

Los Angeles Harbor College

Wilmington, California
#9 in overall quality

Los Angeles Harbor College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. LAHC is a public institution located in Wilmington, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 720 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LAHC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Harbor College is $9,334 for california associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at LAHC

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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