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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan

11 Ranked Colleges
596 Degrees Awarded
$16,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in Michigan

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan” ranking.

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 Michigan, there were 14,373 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,542 and $14,870 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 596 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,161 and $25,915 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan” ranking, we looked at 11 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.

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.

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 a Bachelor’s in Michigan” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 a Bachelor’s in Michigan

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan.

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. It costs about $15,336 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at U-M

#2

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 80 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, GVSU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $17,646 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#3

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 139 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, Oakland has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. It costs about $11,802 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Oakland.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakland University

#4

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #4 spot on the list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. It costs about $19,173 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Michigan State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Michigan State

#5

Baker College

Owosso, Michigan

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Baker College landed the #5 spot on the list. Baker College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Owosso, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baker College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baker College is $15,049 for michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Baker College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan ranking. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $11,473 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Michigan - Dearborn

#7

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan ranking. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. The yearly cost to attend Ferris is $12,889 for michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ferris State University

#8

Siena Heights University

Adrian, Michigan

Siena Heights University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan ranking. This small school is located in Adrian, Michigan, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Siena Heights University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Siena Heights University is $21,249 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Siena Heights University

#9

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Spring Arbor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan list. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Spring Arbor did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. The yearly cost to attend Spring Arbor is $19,183 for michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Full Spring Arbor University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cornerstone University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan list. Cornerstone University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 9 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornerstone, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cornerstone is $20,740 for michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cornerstone University

#11

Aquinas College Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

With a ranking of #11, Aquinas College Michigan did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan list. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aquinas College Michigan, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Aquinas College Michigan is $18,549 for michigan bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Aquinas College Michigan

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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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