by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 in Illinois” ranking.
With 556,813 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 25,747 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,957 and $14,623 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking looked at 54 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. Elgin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 931 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
ECC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for ECC is $3,828 for illinois liberal arts students.
Out of the 54 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Lake County landed the #2 spot on the list. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,475 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
College of Lake County not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $4,989 for Illinois Liberal Arts students per year to attend College of Lake County.
Full College of Lake County Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Out of the 54 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Lincoln Land Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Lincoln Land Community College is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 522 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LLCC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Land Community College is $6,027 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lincoln Land Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Moraine Valley Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois. Palos Hills, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,141 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MVCC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $1,901 for Illinois Liberal Arts students per year to attend MVCC.
Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Out of the 54 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 169 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $15,305 for illinois liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Illinois University
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. Harold Washington College is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,599 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harold Washington College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is $2,726 for illinois liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
With a ranking of #7, City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Olive-Harvey College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olive-Harvey College is $3,802 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Olive-Harvey College
Waubonsee Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Sugar Grove, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 505 students in 2020-2021.
Waubonsee not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $5,104 for illinois liberal arts students per year to attend Waubonsee.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Waubonsee Community College
John Wood Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. John Wood Community College is a public institution located in Quincy, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 267 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
John Wood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend John Wood Community College is $6,634 for illinois liberal arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at John Wood Community College
With a ranking of #10, South Suburban College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. South Suburban College is a public institution located in South Holland, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 305 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SSC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $4,204 for Illinois Liberal Arts students per year to attend South Suburban College.
Oakton Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Oakton Community College is a public institution located in Des Plaines, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 818 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakton Community College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oakton Community College is $6,423 for illinois liberal arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Full Oakton Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Shawnee Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Shawnee Community College is a public institution located in Ullin, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 252 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Shawnee Community College is $4,416 for illinois liberal arts students.
Full Shawnee Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, Triton College did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. River Grove, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 604 students in 2020-2021.
Triton College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $4,816 for illinois liberal arts students per year to attend Triton College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Triton College
William Rainey Harper College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. William Rainey Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,873 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois liberal arts students list, Harper College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William Rainey Harper College is $7,184 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at William Rainey Harper College
Danville Area Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Danville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 225 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,537 for Illinois Liberal Arts students per year to attend DACC.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Danville Area Community College
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1,101 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Wilbur Wright College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is $2,482 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Prairie State College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Prairie State College is a public institution located in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 305 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Prairie State College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Prairie State College is $8,981 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Prairie State College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Illinois State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 126 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State also took the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,830 for illinois liberal arts students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Illinois State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Rock Valley College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 568 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Rock Valley College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rock Valley College is $9,428 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Rock Valley College
College of DuPage ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois list. COD is a large public school situated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It awarded 962 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
COD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $6,382 for illinois liberal arts students per year to attend COD.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of DuPage
McHenry County College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. McHenry County College is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 841 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
MCC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MCC is $7,706 for illinois liberal arts students.
Black Hawk College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. BHC is located in Moline, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 527 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend BHC is $5,208 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Black Hawk College
Lewis and Clark Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Godfrey, Illinois, this small public school awarded 513 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois liberal arts students list, Lewis and Clark Community College has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lewis and Clark Community College is $6,972 for illinois liberal arts students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lewis and Clark Community College
Carl Sandburg College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Carl Sandburg College is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 475 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,834 for Illinois Liberal Arts students per year to attend Carl Sandburg College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Carl Sandburg College
Parkland College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Illinois ranking. Parkland College is a medium-sized school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 489 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Parkland College is $8,539 for Illinois Liberal Arts students.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
