2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 the Plains States region, there were 31,703 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,800 and $15,275 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 27,020 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 94 colleges that offer 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.
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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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 Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region
Out of the 94 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Normandale Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bloomington, Minnesota that handed out 687 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Normandale Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Normandale Community College is $12,620 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Full Normandale Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Louis Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 1,377 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Saint Louis Community College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Louis Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 639 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,890 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
Full Anoka-Ramsey Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bismarck State College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 405 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
BSC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bismarck State College is $9,420 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Bismarck State College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Des Moines Area Community College is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 1,299 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
DMACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $10,076 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College
With a ranking of #6, Century College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a medium-sized school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 400 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree liberal arts students list, Century College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,808 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Century College
Inver Hills Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, and it awarded 326 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IHCC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Inver Hills Community College is $11,486 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Johnson County Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 1,207 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
JCCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,632 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Johnson County Community College.
St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 314 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
St Cloud Technical and Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at St Cloud Technical and Community College
North Hennepin Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 292 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
North Hennepin Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for North Hennepin Community College is $10,284 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Full North Hennepin Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Metropolitan Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 548 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree liberal arts students list, MCC has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Northland Community and Technical College is located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 155 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Northland Community and Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,860 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Northland Community and Technical College.
Full Northland Community and Technical College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 1,147 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $7,066 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Rochester Community and Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Rochester, Minnesota, and it awarded 291 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Rochester Community and Technical College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rochester Community and Technical College is $14,088 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Rochester Community and Technical College
Kirkwood Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 730 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Kirkwood Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $10,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Kirkwood Community College
With a ranking of #16, North Dakota State College of Science did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State College of Science is a public institution located in Wahpeton, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 101 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
North Dakota State College of Science did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State College of Science is $10,940 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Full North Dakota State College of Science Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Lake Superior College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Lake Superior College is a small public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 282 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
LSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for LSC is $13,503 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Full Lake Superior College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Hutchinson Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Hutchinson Community College is located in Hutchinson, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 572 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Hutchinson Community College is $7,922 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Hutchinson Community College
Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Central Lakes College - Brainerd is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 288 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,514 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Central Lakes College - Brainerd.
Full Central Lakes College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Butler Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Butler CC is a medium-sized school located in El Dorado, Kansas that handed out 600 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Butler CC is $13,895 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Full Butler Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Minnesota State Community and Technical College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and it awarded 282 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Community and Technical College is $10,818 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Sheldon, Iowa. It awarded 67 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,125 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwest Iowa Community College
With a ranking of #23, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 660 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia College Missouri did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $26,730 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbia College Missouri
Indian Hills Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 349 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,217 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students per year to attend IHCC.
Cowley County Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Arkansas City, Kansas, and it awarded 320 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cowley County Community College is $7,908 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cowley County Community College
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Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
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Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region
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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