2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in California
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 112,019 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,678 and $19,082 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 48,396 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 58 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pasadena City College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2,658 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
Pasadena City College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $2,158 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pasadena City College.
Full Pasadena City College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Golden West College landed the #2 spot on the list. Huntington Beach, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 2,145 students in 2019-2020.
Golden West College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Golden West College is $1,941 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Golden West College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ventura College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Ventura College is located in Ventura, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 929 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
Ventura College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $506 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ventura College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Ventura College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chabot College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 408 students in 2019-2020.
Chabot College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Chabot College is $3,261 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Chabot College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of the Sequoias. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large school located in Visalia, California that handed out 909 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $590 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full College of the Sequoias Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Grossmont College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. El Cajon, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 786 students in 2019-2020.
Grossmont College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Grossmont College is $2,124 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Grossmont College
With a ranking of #7, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. SAC is a large school located in Santa Ana, California that handed out 1,066 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
SAC also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for SAC is $3,801 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Santa Ana College
Palomar College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Palomar College is located in San Marcos, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 283 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
Palomar College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Palomar College is $2,891 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Palomar College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
With a ranking of #9, Cerritos College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cerritos College is a public institution located in Norwalk, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 298 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cerritos College is $3,407 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cerritos College
With a ranking of #10, Orange Coast College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Costa Mesa, California, this fairly large public school awarded 481 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
Orange Coast College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $2,438 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Orange Coast College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Orange Coast College
Moreno Valley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Moreno Valley, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 1,057 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k list, Moreno Valley College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Moreno Valley College is $4,633 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Moreno Valley College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Riverside City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 1,906 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
Riverside City College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,620 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Riverside City College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Riverside City College
West Valley College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saratoga, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 232 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
West Valley College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for West Valley College is $2,203 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full West Valley College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
City College of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large public school awarded 180 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at City College of San Francisco, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,818 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend City College of San Francisco.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at City College of San Francisco
Santa Barbara City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,027 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
SBCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend SBCC is $6,058 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Santa Barbara City College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
MiraCosta College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Oceanside, California, this fairly large public school handed out 755 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MiraCosta College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $737 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MiraCosta College.
Full MiraCosta College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Norco College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Norco College is a public institution located in Norco, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 897 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k list, Norco College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,099 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Norco College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Norco College
Saddleback College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,086 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $3,741 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saddleback College.
Full Saddleback College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
With a ranking of #19, Rio Hondo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. RHCCD is a public institution located in Whittier, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 555 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend RHCCD is $4,797 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #20, Los Angeles Pierce College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pierce College is a fairly large public school situated in Woodland Hills, California. It awarded 1,722 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Pierce College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $9,387 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Los Angeles Pierce College.
The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Los Angeles Pierce College
Imperial Valley College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Imperial, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 378 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Imperial Valley College is $555 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Imperial Valley College
Yuba College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Marysville, California, and it awarded 34 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Yuba College is $3,506 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Yuba College
Mt. San Jacinto College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSJC is a fairly large school located in San Jacinto, California that handed out 908 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $4,840 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSJC.
Los Medanos College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Los Medanos College is a medium-sized public school situated in Pittsburg, California. It awarded 516 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Los Medanos is $4,220 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Los Medanos College
Hartnell College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hartnell College is a medium-sized public school situated in Salinas, California. It awarded 589 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,008 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hartnell College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Hartnell College
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
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