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. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois” 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.
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 “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 95 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts general studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful liberal arts general studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
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 “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois”.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Moraine Valley Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois. Moraine Valley Community College is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,141 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Moraine Valley Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William Rainey Harper College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Harper College is a fairly large school located in Palatine, Illinois that handed out 1,873 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full William Rainey Harper College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Out of the 95 schools in the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #3 spot on the 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of DuPage. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois. College of DuPage is a large public school situated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It awarded 962 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,475 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Lake County
Joliet Junior College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 752 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Joliet Junior College
Elgin Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Elgin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Elgin, Illinois. It awarded 931 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois Central College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Illinois Central College is a medium-sized public school situated in East Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 632 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Wilbur Wright College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1,101 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wilbur Wright College
Rock Valley College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 568 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Rock Valley College
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Lincoln Land Community College is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 522 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Lincoln Land Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Oakton Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 818 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
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
Heartland Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Normal, Illinois, this small public school handed out 603 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Full Heartland Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Waubonsee Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 505 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. SWIC is a medium-sized public school situated in Belleville, Illinois. It awarded 451 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Triton College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. Triton College is a public institution located in River Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 604 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
McHenry County College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and it awarded 841 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #18, Parkland College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Parkland College is a medium-sized public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 489 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Parkland College
With a ranking of #19, Prairie State College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Prairie State College is a small public school situated in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It awarded 305 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Prairie State College
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 417 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
Lake Land College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Mattoon, Illinois, this small public school handed out 547 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lake Land College
Black Hawk College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. BHC is a small public school situated in Moline, Illinois. It awarded 527 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. Harry S Truman College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 440 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Harry S Truman College
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois ranking. Richard J Daley College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 406 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
With a ranking of #25, John Wood Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Illinois list. John Wood Community College is located in Quincy, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 267 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at John Wood Community College
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
