by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. 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.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 401,197 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,806 and $19,336 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major” ranking, we looked at 1,486 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. That schools that top this list have a program in liberal arts general studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major” 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.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major”.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend New Mexico Military Institute. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major. Roswell, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 109 students in 2020-2021.
Out of the 1,486 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Carolina - Sumter landed the #1 spot on the list. USC Sumter is a small school located in Sumter, South Carolina that handed out 159 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of South Carolina - Sumter
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jacksonville College-Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. Jacksonville Baptist College is located in Jacksonville, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Jacksonville College-Main Campus
Out of the 1,486 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie landed the #1 spot on the list. USC Salkehatchie is a small public school situated in Allendale, South Carolina. It awarded 91 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio University - Eastern Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. Saint Clairsville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Ohio University - Eastern Campus
Out of the 1,486 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Carolina - Union landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Union, South Carolina, this small public school handed out 117 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Full University of South Carolina - Union Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Community Christian College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. This small school is located in Redlands, California, and it awarded 14 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Community Christian College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend White Earth Tribal and Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major. WETCC is a small school located in Mahnomen, Minnesota that handed out 21 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 1,486 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Oxford College of Emory University landed the #1 spot on the list. Oxford College is located in Oxford, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 452 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Marion Military Institute. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major. Marion Military Institute is located in Marion, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Full Marion Military Institute Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chatfield College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. This small school is located in Saint Martin, Ohio, and it awarded 25 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Rainy River Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. Rainy River Community College is a small school located in International Falls, Minnesota that handed out 28 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Rainy River Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Kent State University at Stark did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking, coming in at #13. Kent State University at Stark is a small public school situated in Canton, Ohio. It awarded 761 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kent State University at Stark
Georgia State University-Perimeter College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. Georgia State University-Perimeter College is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,419 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Southwestern Christian College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. This small school is located in Terrell, Texas, and it awarded 17 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Southwestern Christian College
Northeast Lakeview College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking, coming in at #16. Northeast Lakeview College is a medium-sized public school situated in Universal City, Texas. It awarded 813 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northeast Lakeview College
Red Lake Nation College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking. Red Lake Nation College is a small school located in Red Lake, Minnesota that handed out 12 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Red Lake Nation College
Chief Dull Knife College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking, coming in at #18. Chief Dull Knife College is a small public school situated in Lame Deer, Montana. It awarded 7 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Chief Dull Knife College
With a ranking of #19, Northwest Vista College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. Northwest Vista College is a fairly large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 2,384 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Northwest Vista College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Louisburg College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking, coming in at #20. Louisburg College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Louisburg, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 74 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Louisburg College
Bergen Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking. Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, New Jersey and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,876 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Bergen Community College
Ohio State University - Newark Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. Ohio State University - Newark Campus is a public institution located in Newark, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 536 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Ohio State University - Newark Campus
Georgia Highlands College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Rome, Georgia, and it awarded 782 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Moberly Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking, coming in at #24. Moberly Area Community College is a small school located in Moberly, Missouri that handed out 652 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Assumption College for Sisters did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major ranking, coming in at #25. Assumption College for Sisters is a private not-for-profit institution located in Denville, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Assumption College for Sisters
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Ocean County College | Toms River, NJ |
| 52 | Tillamook Bay Community College | Tillamook, OR |
| 53 | Columbia State Community College | Columbia, TN |
| 54 | Lane Community College | Eugene, OR |
| 55 | Columbia Basin College | Pasco, WA |
| 56 | Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom | Lakewood, WA |
| 57 | Tri-County Community College | Murphy, NC |
| 58 | Leech Lake Tribal College | Cass Lake, MN |
| 59 | Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers, FL |
| 60 | University of South Carolina - Lancaster | Lancaster, SC |
| 61 | Chemeketa Community College | Salem, OR |
| 62 | Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee, WA |
| 63 | Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane, WA |
| 64 | El Centro College | Dallas, TX |
| 65 | Laredo College | Laredo, TX |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 216 | College of the Muscogee Nation | Okmulgee, OK |
| 216 | Garrett College | McHenry, MD |
| 216 | Lassen Community College | Susanville, CA |
| 219 | Treasure Valley Community College | Ontario, OR |
| 220 | Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington, NC |
| 221 | Kapiolani Community College | Honolulu, HI |
| 222 | Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 223 | New River Community College | Dublin, VA |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
