Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois

41 Ranked Colleges
14,240 Degrees Awarded
$5,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 365,980 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across Illinois, there were 23,860 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 14,240 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,469 and $14,548 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois” ranking analyzed 41 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts 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 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.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools

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 Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in Illinois

#1

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. ECC is a medium-sized public school situated in Elgin, Illinois. It awarded 604 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students list, ECC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $4,185 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students per year to attend Elgin Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at ECC

#2

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 41 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Lincoln Land Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 452 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at LLCC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Land Community College is $6,168 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Lincoln Land Community College

#3

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Joliet Junior College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 578 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Joliet Junior College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Joliet Junior College

#4

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Moraine Valley Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois. MVCC is a public institution located in Palos Hills, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 682 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MVCC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Moraine Valley Community College is $2,422 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at MVCC

#5

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of Lake County. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 831 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

College of Lake County did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at College of Lake County

#6

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Triton College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Triton College is located in River Grove, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 335 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Triton College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Triton College is $4,988 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Full Triton College Liberal Arts Report

#7

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

Southwestern Illinois College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized school located in Belleville, Illinois that handed out 470 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SWIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for SWIC is $7,098 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Full Southwestern Illinois College Liberal Arts Report

#8

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

College of DuPage landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. COD is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 621 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

COD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend College of DuPage is $7,566 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at COD

#9

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Illinois Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in East Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 745 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students list, ICC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $9,578 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students per year to attend Illinois Central College.

Full Illinois Central College Liberal Arts Report

#10

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 903 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Harper College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harper College is $7,532 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Full Harper College Liberal Arts Report

#6 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 698 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harold Washington College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harold Washington College is $2,992 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Liberal Arts Report

#12

Rock Valley College

Rockford, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Rock Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Rock Valley College is a public institution located in Rockford, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 560 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rock Valley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rock Valley College is $7,399 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Rock Valley College

#13

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Oakton Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 517 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students list, Oakton Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakton Community College is $6,141 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Oakton Community College

#14

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

South Suburban College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. South Suburban College is a small school located in South Holland, Illinois that handed out 167 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend South Suburban College is $4,746 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at SSC

#10 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 427 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Wilbur Wright College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $2,876 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Wilbur Wright College

#16

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Waubonsee Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Waubonsee Community College is a medium-sized school located in Sugar Grove, Illinois that handed out 474 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students list, Waubonsee has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Waubonsee Community College is $5,130 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Full Waubonsee Community College Liberal Arts Report

#17

Lake Land College

Mattoon, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Lake Land College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in Mattoon, Illinois, and it awarded 441 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Land College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lake Land College is $4,468 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Full Lake Land College Liberal Arts Report

#18

Danville Area Community College

Danville, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Danville Area Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Located in Danville, Illinois, this small public school awarded 136 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

DACC also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $5,399 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend Danville Area Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at DACC

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 169 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harry S Truman College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Harry S Truman College is $4,688 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Full Harry S Truman College Liberal Arts Report

#19

Prairie State College

Chicago Heights, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

Prairie State College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Prairie State College is a public institution located in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 224 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Prairie State College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Prairie State College is $7,669 for illinois associate degree liberal 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 Liberal Arts at Prairie State College

#21

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Black Hawk College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Black Hawk College is located in Moline, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 215 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students list, BHC has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Black Hawk College is $5,706 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at BHC

#22

McHenry County College

Crystal Lake, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

McHenry County College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. This medium-sized school is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and it awarded 377 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

MCC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McHenry County College is $7,048 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Full McHenry County College Liberal Arts Report

#23

Heartland Community College

Normal, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Heartland Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 563 students in 2019-2020.

Heartland Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Heartland Community College is $9,703 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Heartland Community College

#18 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 110 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Malcolm X College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $3,689 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College

#25

Shawnee Community College

Ullin, Illinois

Shawnee Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #25. Shawnee Community College is a public institution located in Ullin, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 129 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,242 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students per year to attend Shawnee Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Shawnee Community College

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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