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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

58 Ranked Colleges
48,396 Degrees Awarded
$3,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 112,019 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,678 and $19,082 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 48,396 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 58 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies 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 general studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Pasadena City College landed the #1 spot on the list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 2,658 students in 2019-2020.

Pasadena City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $2,158 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pasadena City College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Pasadena City College

#2

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California

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 Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Huntington Beach, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 2,145 students in 2019-2020.

Golden West College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $1,941 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Golden West College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Golden West College

#3

Ventura College

Ventura, California

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ventura College landed the #3 spot on the list. Ventura College is a fairly large school located in Ventura, California that handed out 929 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Ventura College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $506 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ventura College.

Full Ventura College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#4

Chabot College

Hayward, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chabot College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 408 students in 2019-2020.

Chabot College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Chabot College is $3,261 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Chabot College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#5

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of the Sequoias. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large public school situated in Visalia, California. It awarded 909 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $590 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of the Sequoias

#6

Grossmont College

El Cajon, California

Grossmont College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grossmont College is a fairly large school located in El Cajon, California that handed out 786 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Grossmont College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Grossmont College is $2,124 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Grossmont College

#7

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Ana College is a public institution located in Santa Ana, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,066 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, SAC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SAC is $3,801 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at SAC

#8

Palomar College

San Marcos, California

Palomar College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Palomar College is a large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 283 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Palomar College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Palomar College is $2,891 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Palomar College

#9

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

With a ranking of #9, Cerritos College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cerritos College is a large public school situated in Norwalk, California. It awarded 298 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cerritos College is $3,407 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Cerritos College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, California

Orange Coast College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Costa Mesa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 481 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Orange Coast College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Orange Coast College is $2,438 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Orange Coast College

#11

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, California

Moreno Valley College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Moreno Valley College is a public institution located in Moreno Valley, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,057 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Moreno Valley College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $4,633 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Moreno Valley College.

Full Moreno Valley College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#12

Riverside City College

Riverside, California

Riverside City College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Riverside City College is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,906 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Riverside City College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,620 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Riverside City College.

Full Riverside City College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#13

West Valley College

Saratoga, California

West Valley College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Saratoga, California. It awarded 232 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at West Valley College, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,203 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Valley College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at West Valley College

#14

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

City College of San Francisco landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 180 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

City College of San Francisco did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for City College of San Francisco is $2,818 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full City College of San Francisco Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#15

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara City College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SBCC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 1,027 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SBCC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SBCC is $6,058 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at SBCC

#16

MiraCosta College

Oceanside, California

MiraCosta College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. MiraCosta College is a fairly large school located in Oceanside, California that handed out 755 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

MiraCosta College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for MiraCosta College is $737 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full MiraCosta College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#17

Norco College

Norco, California

Norco College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Norco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 897 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Norco College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Norco College is $5,099 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Norco College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#18

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mission Viejo, California, and it awarded 1,086 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,741 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saddleback College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Saddleback College

#19

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California

Rio Hondo College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rio Hondo College is a public institution located in Whittier, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 555 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend RHCCD is $4,797 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Rio Hondo College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#20

Los Angeles Pierce College

Woodland Hills, California

Los Angeles Pierce College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Woodland Hills, California, and it awarded 1,722 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Pierce College has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pierce College is $9,387 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Pierce College

#21

Imperial Valley College

Imperial, California

With a ranking of #21, Imperial Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Imperial, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 378 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Imperial Valley College is $555 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Imperial Valley College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#22

Yuba College

Marysville, California

With a ranking of #22, Yuba College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Yuba College is a public institution located in Marysville, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Yuba College is $3,506 for california associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Yuba College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#23

Mt. San Jacinto College

San Jacinto, California

Mt. San Jacinto College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jacinto, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 908 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MSJC is $4,840 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Mt. San Jacinto College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#24

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, California

With a ranking of #24, Los Medanos College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, California, and it awarded 516 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Los Medanos is $4,220 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Los Medanos

#25

Hartnell College

Salinas, California

Hartnell College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hartnell College is located in Salinas, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 589 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,008 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hartnell College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Hartnell College

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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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