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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

143 Ranked Colleges
41,983 Degrees Awarded
$3,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 65,409 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,947 and $17,710 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 41,983 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 143 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#1

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Moraine Valley Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Palos Hills, Illinois, and it awarded 978 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

MVCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MVCC is $340 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#2

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 1,305 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $-51 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#3

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Elgin Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. ECC is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 604 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ECC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,384 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ECC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at ECC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cuyahoga Community College District. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 1,804 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Cuyahoga Community College District also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $3,635 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cuyahoga Community College District

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College landed the #5 spot on the list. Wilbur Wright College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 602 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Wilbur Wright College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $2,127 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wilbur Wright College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College

#6

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

College of Lake County ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. College of Lake County is a fairly large public school situated in Grayslake, Illinois. It awarded 862 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

College of Lake County did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $3,742 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend College of Lake County.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Lake County

City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 806 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Harold Washington College also took the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,452 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College.

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

#8

Delta College

University Center, Michigan

Delta College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 917 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Delta College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $1,822 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Delta College.

Full Delta College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#9

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

College of DuPage came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. COD is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 759 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

COD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for COD is $5,478 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full COD Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Waubonsee Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Waubonsee Community College is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 547 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $2,818 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waubonsee.

Full Waubonsee Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois

William Rainey Harper College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,001 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Harper College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William Rainey Harper College is $5,913 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Harper College

#12

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln Land Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. LLCC is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 548 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

LLCC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lincoln Land Community College is $3,915 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lincoln Land Community College

Lorain County Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lorain County Community College is located in Elyria, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 937 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $2,200 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lorain County Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lorain County Community College

#14

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Triton College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in River Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 460 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Triton College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Triton College is $4,546 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Triton College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#15

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 752 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,699 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Joliet Junior College

#16

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 582 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $3,185 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Columbus State Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 1,340 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbus State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,801 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbus State.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbus State Community College

With a ranking of #18, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 246 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is $4,404 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Harry S Truman College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 239 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Malcolm X College is $3,251 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#20

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. South Suburban College is a small school located in South Holland, Illinois that handed out 178 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,866 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Suburban College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at SSC

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 168 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State is $3,756 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

With a ranking of #22, Kent State University at Stark did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent State University at Stark is a small public school situated in Canton, Ohio. It awarded 970 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State University at Stark also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,092 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kent State University at Stark.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kent State University at Stark

#23

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 406 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,460 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Henry Ford College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Henry Ford College

#24

St Clair County Community College

Port Huron, Michigan

St Clair County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Port Huron, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 563 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend St Clair County Community College is $2,603 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SC4 Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#25

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Moline, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 227 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Black Hawk College is $3,234 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Black Hawk College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

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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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