2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k)
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
With 559,661 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. 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.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 403,365 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 926 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k)
Out of the 926 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #1 spot on the list. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harvard, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Harvard is $1,010 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Harvard University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pasadena City College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pasadena City College is $2,968 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Pasadena City College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend El Centro College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k. El Centro College is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5,589 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
El Centro College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for El Centro College is $4,228 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at El Centro College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tallahassee Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 2,554 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Tallahassee Community College excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $3,291 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Tallahassee Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Tallahassee Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Nassau Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Nassau Community College is a fairly large school located in Garden City, New York that handed out 1,353 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Nassau Community College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Nassau Community College is $3,837 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Nassau Community College
Indian River State College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, and it awarded 2,032 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Indian River State College is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Indian River State College is $1,475 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Indian River State College
With a ranking of #6, Tarrant County College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tarrant County College District is a public institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,575 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Tarrant County College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College District is $5,742 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Tarrant County College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
South Texas College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,590 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
South Texas College excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,390 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at South Texas College
With a ranking of #9, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Moraine Valley Community College is a public institution located in Palos Hills, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 978 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, MVCC is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Moraine Valley Community College is $1,513 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #10, Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 1,579 students in 2019-2020.
FSCJ also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend FSCJ is $3,680 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Florida State College at Jacksonville Liberal Arts General Studies Report
St Petersburg College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. SPC is a large school located in Clearwater, Florida that handed out 3,098 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, SPC is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. It costs about $3,182 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St Petersburg College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at St Petersburg College
Suffolk County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Suffolk County Community College is a large public school situated in Selden, New York. It awarded 1,772 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Suffolk County Community College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,371 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Suffolk County Community College.
Full Suffolk County Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Valencia College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school handed out 7,122 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Valencia College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $5,369 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Valencia College
Houston Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 2,851 students in 2019-2020.
Houston Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Houston Community College is $5,351 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Houston Community College
Austin Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 1,547 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $4,362 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Austin Community College District
Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Oakland Community College is a fairly large school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan that handed out 1,305 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Oakland Community College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $1,614 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakland Community College
Elgin Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Elgin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Elgin, Illinois. It awarded 604 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ECC is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $3,717 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Elgin Community College.
Full Elgin Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Golden West College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Golden West College is a public institution located in Huntington Beach, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,145 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Golden West College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $2,962 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Golden West College
With a ranking of #19, Hillsborough Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. HCC is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3,253 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
HCC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for HCC is $4,134 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Hillsborough Community College
With a ranking of #20, Brazosport College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. BC is located in Lake Jackson, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 306 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
BC excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,286 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BC.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Brazosport College
With a ranking of #21, Ventura College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ventura, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 929 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $978 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
College of Lake County came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 862 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, College of Lake County also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,136 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Lake County
Florida Gateway College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida Gateway College is a public institution located in Lake City, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 378 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, FGC is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Florida Gateway College is $2,455 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Florida Gateway College
North Florida College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Madison, Florida, and it awarded 168 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend NFC is $3,089 for associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Cleveland Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Shelby, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 222 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland Community College is $4,495 for Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Cleveland Community College
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL |
| 52 | Northwest Vista College | San Antonio, TX |
| 53 | South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL |
| 54 | Orange County Community College | Middletown, NY |
| 55 | St Charles Community College | Cottleville, MO |
| 56 | College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL |
| 57 | San Antonio College | San Antonio, TX |
| 58 | Metropolitan Community College | Omaha, NE |
| 59 | Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA |
| 60 | Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield, IL |
| 61 | Delta College | University Center, MI |
| 62 | Seattle Central College | Seattle, WA |
| 63 | Lorain County Community College | Elyria, OH |
| 64 | Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA |
| 65 | Shoreline Community College | Shoreline, WA |
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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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