2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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” ranking looked at 143 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
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.
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More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakland Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,305 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Oakland Community College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,825 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Oakland Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakland Community College
Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #2 spot on the list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 1,804 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cuyahoga Community College District, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,415 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.
Full Cuyahoga Community College District Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 604 students in 2019-2020.
ECC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend ECC is $4,185 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Elgin Community College
Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Joliet Junior College landed the #4 spot on the list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 752 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Joliet Junior College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Joliet Junior College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Macomb Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Warren, Michigan, and it awarded 839 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Macomb Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Macomb Community College is $8,724 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Macomb Community College
Madison Area Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison College is a fairly large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 360 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Madison College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Madison College is $9,904 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Madison Area Technical College
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. LLCC is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 548 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
LLCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,168 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Lincoln Land Community College.
Full Lincoln Land Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 978 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students list, MVCC has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MVCC is $2,422 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Columbus State Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 1,340 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students list, Columbus State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Columbus State Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbus State Community College
Delta College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delta College is located in University Center, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 917 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
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 ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Delta College is $3,629 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Delta College
With a ranking of #11, Southwestern Illinois College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized school located in Belleville, Illinois that handed out 470 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,098 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Southwestern Illinois College.
Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 1,591 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Ivy Tech Community College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $6,919 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Ivy Tech Community College
Wayne County Community College District landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. WCCCD is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 571 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Wayne County Community College District is $5,060 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Lorain County Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Elyria, Ohio, and it awarded 937 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for LCCC is $3,204 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Full Lorain County Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
College of Lake County landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. College of Lake County is a fairly large school located in Grayslake, Illinois that handed out 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. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Full College of Lake County Liberal Arts General Studies Report
College of DuPage came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. COD is a large school located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois that handed out 759 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
COD also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend COD is $7,566 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 935 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Grand Rapids Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Grand Rapids Community College is $8,684 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Full Grand Rapids Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Illinois Central College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois Central College is a medium-sized school located in East Peoria, Illinois that handed out 947 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, ICC also did well 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. The estimated yearly cost for ICC is $9,578 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Illinois Central College
Triton College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. Located in River Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 460 diplomas 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 $4,988 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Triton College
William Rainey Harper College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school situated in Palatine, Illinois. It awarded 1,001 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students 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. It costs about $7,532 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Harper College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Harper College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 582 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $4,802 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 168 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,469 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Vincennes University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Vincennes University is located in Vincennes, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 536 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students list, Vincennes University has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vincennes University is $10,845 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Vincennes University
Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 96 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend MATC is $9,076 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 164 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students list, UW - Green Bay has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend UW - Green Bay.
Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay 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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