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2024 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

124 Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
41,009 Associate Degrees
$24,944 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #1 in popularity, liberal arts general studies is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual reviewed 124 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones were the best for associate degree seekers in the field of liberal arts general studies. Combined, these schools handed out 41,009 associate degrees in liberal arts general studies to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Liberal Arts General Studies School for Your Associate Degree

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region The liberal arts associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality liberal arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Early-Career Salaries

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their associate degree from the school. After all, your associate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Liberal Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Liberal Arts General Studies in the Great Lakes Region

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

18 Top Great Lakes Region Schools for an Associate in Liberal Arts

1
Vincennes University crest
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN
570 Annual Graduates
$37,330 Median Starting Salary
$12,157 Median Student Debt

Vincennes University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Vincennes University is a fairly large public university located in the remote town of Vincennes.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from Vincennes University make $12,386 more than the average liberal arts grad.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Vincennes University

2
821 Annual Graduates
$27,907 Median Starting Salary
$6,687 Median Student Debt

College of Lake County is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. College of Lake County is a large public college located in the suburb of Grayslake.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from College of Lake County make $2,963 more than the standard liberal arts grad.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from College of Lake County

3
1,209 Annual Graduates
$27,775 Median Starting Salary
$8,250 Median Student Debt

Macomb Community College is a wonderful decision for students pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the midsize city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies major at Macomb Community College make $2,831 above the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Macomb Community College

4
205 Annual Graduates
$25,705 Median Starting Salary
$11,000 Median Student Debt

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public university with a moderately-sized student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn an average of $25,705 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

5
1,047 Annual Graduates
$26,090 Median Starting Salary
$7,500 Median Student Debt

Harper College is a large public college located in the suburb of Palatine.

After graduating, liberal arts associate recipients typically make around $26,090 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from William Rainey Harper College

6
761 Annual Graduates
$26,550 Median Starting Salary
$20,500 Median Student Debt

Located in the large suburb of North Canton, Kent State University at Stark is a public university with a small student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career income of $26,550.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Kent State University at Stark

7
280 Annual Graduates
$28,668 Median Starting Salary
$10,700 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public university with a very large student population.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee earn $3,724 more than the average liberal arts graduate.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

8
136 Annual Graduates
$32,445 Median Starting Salary
$15,338 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College get an earnings boost of around $7,501 over the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

9
975 Annual Graduates
$26,255 Median Starting Salary
$8,100 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Chicago, Harold Washington College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make an average of $26,255 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College

10
111 Annual Graduates
$36,049 Median Starting Salary
$24,688 Median Student Debt

Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global earn a boost of approximately $11,105 over the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global

11
639 Annual Graduates
$26,806 Median Starting Salary
$8,380 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Elgin, ECC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career wages of $26,806.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Elgin Community College

12
130 Annual Graduates
$29,762 Median Starting Salary
$23,112 Median Student Debt

University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Akron.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from University of Akron Main Campus earn a boost of around $4,818 above the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies graduates.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from University of Akron Main Campus

13
499 Annual Graduates
$22,597 Median Starting Salary
$7,250 Median Student Debt

Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make an average of $22,597 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Waubonsee Community College

14
95 Annual Graduates
$24,892 Median Starting Salary
$9,500 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of Chicago, Olive-Harvey College is a public college with a small student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career earnings of $24,892.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College

15
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI
811 Annual Graduates
$28,642 Median Starting Salary
$12,843 Median Student Debt

Oakland Community College is a fairly large public college located in the suburb of Auburn Hills.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies program at Oakland Community College earn $3,698 more than the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Oakland Community College

16
361 Annual Graduates
$27,091 Median Starting Salary
$11,909 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh make $2,147 more than the standard liberal arts graduate.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

17
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
1,381 Annual Graduates
$24,291 Median Starting Salary
$11,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn around $24,291 for their early career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Ivy Tech Community College

18
MCC crest
McHenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
423 Annual Graduates
$28,164 Median Starting Salary
$7,500 Median Student Debt

MCC is a moderately-sized public college located in the rural area of Crystal Lake.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from McHenry County College get an earnings boost of about $3,220 above the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies majors.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from McHenry County College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
19 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL
20 City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL
21 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL
22 Ball State University Muncie, IN
23 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
24 Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL
25 Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts general studies schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Ohio 196 10,529
Michigan 192 9,094
Indiana 123 2,317
Illinois 119 16,943
Wisconsin 114 2,087

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One of 0 majors within the Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities area of study, Liberal Arts General Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Liberal Arts Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts 27,356
General Studies 8,767
Individualized Studies 4,114
Humanities 772

Notes and References

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