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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California

58 Ranked Colleges
48,396 Degrees Awarded
$6,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California” ranking analyzed 58 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts general studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies 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 that were part of this year’s ranking, Pasadena City College landed the #1 spot on the list. Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2,658 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pasadena City College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pasadena City College is $2,920 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Pasadena City College

#2

Los Angeles Pierce College

Woodland Hills, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Los Angeles Pierce College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California. Los Angeles Pierce College is a public institution located in Woodland Hills, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,722 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pierce College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Los Angeles Pierce College is $9,875 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Pierce College

#3

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden West College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Huntington Beach, California, this fairly large public school awarded 2,145 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts 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. The estimated yearly cost for Golden West College is $2,862 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

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

#4

El Camino College

Torrance, California

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, El Camino College landed the #4 spot on the list. El Camino College is located in Torrance, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,006 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at El Camino College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Camino College is $9,434 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at El Camino College

#5

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Barbara City College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Barbara City College is $7,556 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Full SBCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#6

Los Angeles Harbor College

Wilmington, California

Los Angeles Harbor College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Wilmington, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 1,078 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students list, LAHC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Los Angeles Harbor College is $9,334 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Full Los Angeles Harbor College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#7

Grossmont College

El Cajon, California

With a ranking of #7, Grossmont College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. This fairly large school is located in El Cajon, California, and it awarded 786 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students list, Grossmont College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,897 for california associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Grossmont College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Grossmont College

#8

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

City College of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #8. 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.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students list, City College of San Francisco has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend City College of San Francisco is $3,267 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at City College of San Francisco

#9

Palomar College

San Marcos, California

Palomar College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Palomar College is a large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 283 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Palomar College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,673 for california associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Palomar College.

Full Palomar College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Riverside City College

Riverside, California

With a ranking of #10, Riverside City College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 1,906 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Riverside City College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Riverside City College is $4,620 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Riverside City College

#11

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #11. SAC is located in Santa Ana, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,066 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

SAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Santa Ana College is $3,801 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full Santa Ana College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#12

Compton College

Compton, California

Compton College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Compton, California, this small public school awarded 170 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Compton College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,215 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Compton College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Compton College

#13

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, California

Orange Coast College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #13. Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 481 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students list, Orange Coast College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,178 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Orange Coast College.

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

#14

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, California

Moreno Valley College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Moreno Valley, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 1,057 students in 2019-2020.

Moreno Valley College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Moreno Valley College is $4,633 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

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

#15

Ventura College

Ventura, California

Ventura College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Ventura, California, this fairly large public school handed out 929 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Ventura College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $1,514 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Ventura College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ventura College

#16

Chabot College

Hayward, California

Chabot College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #16. Chabot College is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 408 associates’s liberal arts degrees 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 $4,192 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Chabot College

#17

Evergreen Valley College

San Jose, California

Evergreen Valley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #17. Evergreen Valley College is a medium-sized school located in San Jose, California that handed out 60 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Evergreen Valley College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Evergreen Valley College is $10,701 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Evergreen Valley College

#18

Brandman University

Irvine, California

Brandman University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Irvine, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 135 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Brandman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Brandman is $21,604 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Full Brandman University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#19

Norco College

Norco, California

Norco College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Norco College is a fairly large public school situated in Norco, California. It awarded 897 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts students 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.

Full Norco College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#20

Los Angeles Southwest College

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Southwest College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #20. Los Angeles Southwest College is a medium-sized school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 548 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Los Angeles Southwest College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,548 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Los Angeles Southwest College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Los Angeles Southwest College

#21

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, California
#22 in overall quality

East Los Angeles College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #21. East Los Angeles College is a large school located in Monterey Park, California that handed out 158 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

East Los Angeles College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $9,570 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend East Los Angeles College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at East Los Angeles College

#22

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California

College of the Sequoias came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. College of the Sequoias is located in Visalia, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 909 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for College of the Sequoias is $1,116 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

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

#23

West Valley College

Saratoga, California

West Valley College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. West Valley College is a medium-sized school located in Saratoga, California that handed out 232 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

West Valley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for West Valley College is $3,791 for california associate degree liberal arts students.

Full West Valley College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#24

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California. It awarded 1,086 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,246 for california associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Saddleback College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Saddleback College

#25

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California

Rio Hondo College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in California list. Rio Hondo College is a fairly large school located in Whittier, California that handed out 555 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,487 for california associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend RHCCD.

Full Rio Hondo 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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