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2024 Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools

597 Colleges in the United States
262,326 Associate Degrees
Liberal Arts is of the hottest associate degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #1 most popular major in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 597 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 262,326 associate degrees in liberal arts during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Liberal Arts School for Your Associate Degree

Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools Your choice of liberal arts for getting your associate degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for liberal arts students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Liberal Studies Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Liberal Arts in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for an Associate in Liberal Studies

1
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1,206 Annual Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in liberal arts needs to take a look at Utah Valley University. Located in the small city of Orem, UVU is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Utah Valley University

2
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
16 Annual Graduates

New York University is a wonderful choice for students interested in an associate degree in liberal arts. Located in the city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from New York University

3
Montgomery College crest
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
264 Annual Graduates

Montgomery College is a great decision for individuals interested in an associate degree in liberal arts. Montgomery College is a large public college located in the city of Rockville.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Montgomery College

4
Golden West College crest
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1,783 Annual Graduates

Golden West College is a wonderful option for individuals interested in an associate degree in liberal arts. Located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Golden West College

5
Vincennes University crest
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
566 Annual Graduates

Vincennes University is a large public university located in the remote town of Vincennes.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Vincennes University

6
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
792 Annual Graduates

College of Lake County is a large public college located in the suburb of Grayslake.More information about a associate in liberal arts from College of Lake County

7
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
345 Annual Graduates

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Central Texas College

8
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
10 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from National University

9
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
248 Annual Graduates

Cuesta College is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Cuesta College

10
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1,642 Annual Graduates

Portland Community College is a fairly large public college located in the city of Portland.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Portland Community College

11
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
224 Annual Graduates

USF Tampa is a very large public university located in the city of Tampa.More information about a associate in liberal arts from University of South Florida - Main Campus

12
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
416 Annual Graduates

UCF is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Orlando.More information about a associate in liberal arts from University of Central Florida

13
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
719 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Central New Mexico Community College

14
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
696 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Mesa Community College

15
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
712 Annual Graduates

Normandale Community College is a moderately-sized public college located in the city of Bloomington.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Normandale Community College

16
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
173 Annual Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Macomb Community College

17
Columbia College Missouri crest
Columbia College
Columbia, MO
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
65 Annual Graduates

Columbia College Missouri is a medium-sized private not-for-profit college located in the midsize city of Columbia.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Columbia College

17
Northwest Vista College crest
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
62 Annual Graduates

Northwest Vista College is a fairly large public college located in the large city of San Antonio.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Northwest Vista College

18
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
203 Annual Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Columbia, HCC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Howard Community College

19
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
187 Annual Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Florida State University

20
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
516 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Riverside City College

21
Pierce College crest
Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
843 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Woodland Hills, Pierce College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Los Angeles Pierce College

22
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
566 Annual Graduates

LAVC is a fairly large public college located in the city of Valley Glen.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Los Angeles Valley College

23
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1,045 Annual Graduates

Located in the suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts from Des Moines Area Community College

24
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
948 Annual Graduates

Harper College is a fairly large public college located in the large suburb of Palatine.More information about a associate in liberal arts from William Rainey Harper College

Rest of the Top 50 Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools

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30
West Valley College crest
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA
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36
37
38
San Antonio College crest
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX
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45
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
46
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49
Los Angeles City College crest
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CA

Remaining Award Winners

This list represents the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 597 different United States liberal arts schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 Beaufort County Community College Washington, NC
51 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
52 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
53 Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ
54 Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
55 Elgin Community College Elgin, IL
56 St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN
57 Excelsior University Albany, NY
58 Valencia College Orlando, FL
59 Century College White Bear Lake, MN
60 Catawba Valley Community College Hickory, NC
61 University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH
62 Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau, ND
63 NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR
64 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
65 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
66 City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College Chicago, IL
67 Cleveland Community College Shelby, NC
68 Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI
69 Touro College New York, NY
70 Bellevue College Bellevue, WA
71 Chesapeake College Wye Mills, MD
72 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN
73 Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ
74 Community College of Aurora Aurora, CO
75 North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MN
76 Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA
77 McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL
78 Nassau Community College Garden City, NY
79 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
80 Gaston College Dallas, NC
81 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
82 Norco College Norco, CA
83 Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ
84 Aims Community College Greeley, CO
85 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
86 Mt. Hood Community College Gresham, OR
87 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL
88 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
89 Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
90 City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL
91 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL
92 Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA
93 Jackson State Community College Jackson, TN
94 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
95 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
96 El Camino College Torrance, CA
97 Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL
98 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
99 Pikes Peak Community College Colorado Springs, CO
100 Triton College River Grove, IL
101 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
102 Florida International University Miami, FL
103 Ventura College Ventura, CA
104 Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar, CA
105 Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO
106 Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA
107 Winona State University Winona, MN
108 Chemeketa Community College Salem, OR
109 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
110 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
111 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL
112 Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MN
113 Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown, MD
114 Lee University Cleveland, TN
115 MiraCosta College Oceanside, CA
116 Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Portales, NM
117 Community College of Denver Denver, CO
118 Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN
119 Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TX

Liberal Arts by Region

View the Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Liberal Arts is one of 3 different types of Liberal Arts General Studies programs to choose from.

Majors Similar to Liberal Studies

Related Major Annual Graduates
General Studies 100,454
Humanities 19,961
Individualized Studies 18,456

Notes and References

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