by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2021-2022, 538,925 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. In , liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $28,316 and had an average of $15,943 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 24,928 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,909 and $14,453 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 95 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.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois liberal arts students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lincoln Trail College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois. Robinson, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 135 students in 2021-2022.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lincoln Trail College
Out of the 95 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois Central College landed the #2 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in East Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 646 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,381 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Harold Washington College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Frontier Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois. Frontier Community College is a public institution located in Fairfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 110 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Frontier Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Heartland Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Heartland Community College is a small school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 628 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Heartland Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #6, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 942 students in 2021-2022.
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 full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
John Wood Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. John Wood Community College is located in Quincy, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 219 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full John Wood Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Rock Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. Rock Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 640 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Rock Valley College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Prairie State College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Prairie State College is a small public school situated in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It awarded 191 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
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.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Prairie State College
South Suburban College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. SSC is a small school located in South Holland, Illinois that handed out 288 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at South Suburban College
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. LLCC is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 471 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lincoln Land Community College
With a ranking of #12, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,278 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 334 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Wabash Valley College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Mount Carmel, Illinois, this small public school handed out 138 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wabash Valley College
With a ranking of #15, Lincoln College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Sugar Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 510 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Waubonsee Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Oakton Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. Oakton Community College is a medium-sized school located in Des Plaines, Illinois that handed out 950 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
Full Oakton Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Triton College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Triton College is a medium-sized public school situated in River Grove, Illinois. It awarded 486 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Triton College
Olney Central College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Olney Central College is located in Olney, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 171 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Olney Central College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Elgin Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Elgin Community College is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,019 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Elgin Community College
College of DuPage did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #21. College of DuPage is a public institution located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 821 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Danville Area Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Danville, Illinois, and it awarded 141 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Black Hawk College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. BHC is located in Moline, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 435 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Joliet Junior College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 662 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Joliet Junior College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 410 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College
Read more about our data sources and methodologies