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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Great Lakes Region

143 Ranked Colleges
41,983 Degrees Awarded
$6,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 the Great Lakes Region” 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 65,409 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,947 and $17,710 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 41,983 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 143 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 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 1,305 students in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $2,825 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cuyahoga Community College District. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,804 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Cuyahoga Community College District also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $5,415 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.

Full Cuyahoga Community College District Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#3

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Elgin Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. ECC is a medium-sized public school situated in Elgin, Illinois. It awarded 604 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECC, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elgin Community College is $4,185 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at ECC

#4

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Joliet Junior College landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 752 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,693 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Joliet Junior College.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Joliet Junior College

#5

Macomb Community College

Warren, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Macomb Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Warren, Michigan, and it awarded 839 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Macomb Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Macomb Community College is $8,724 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full Macomb Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#6

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

Madison Area Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 360 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Madison College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,904 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Madison College.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Madison College

#7

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Lincoln Land Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 548 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, LLCC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LLCC is $6,168 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Lincoln Land Community College

#8

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Moraine Valley Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 978 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

MVCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for MVCC is $2,422 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full MVCC Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#17 in overall quality

Columbus State Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Columbus State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,340 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, Columbus State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Columbus State.

Full Columbus State Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#10

Delta College

University Center, Michigan
Top 20% in overall quality

Delta College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 917 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Delta College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Delta College is $3,629 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Delta College

#11

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized public school situated in Belleville, Illinois. It awarded 470 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SWIC is $7,098 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Southwestern Illinois College

#12

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
Top 20% in overall quality

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 1,591 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Ivy Tech Community College excels when it comes to liberal arts / sciences and humanities quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $6,919 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

Wayne County Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Wayne County Community College District is a fairly large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 571 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Wayne County Community College District is $5,060 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full WCCCD Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

Lorain County Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lorain County Community College is a fairly large school located in Elyria, Ohio that handed out 937 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lorain County Community College is $3,204 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Lorain County Community College

#15

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

College of Lake County came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. College of Lake County is a fairly large school located in Grayslake, Illinois that handed out 862 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

College of Lake County not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,735 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend College of Lake County.

Full College of Lake County Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#16

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

College of DuPage landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. College of DuPage is a large public school situated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It awarded 759 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, COD has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of DuPage is $7,566 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full COD Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#17

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Grand Rapids Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Rapids Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 935 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand Rapids Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Rapids Community College is $8,684 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Grand Rapids Community College

#18

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois
Top 20% in overall quality

Illinois Central College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in East Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 947 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

ICC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,578 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend ICC.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at ICC

#19

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Triton College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in River Grove, Illinois, and it awarded 460 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Triton College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Triton College is $4,988 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Triton College

#20

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

William Rainey Harper College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school situated in Palatine, Illinois. It awarded 1,001 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Harper College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Harper College is $7,532 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at William Rainey Harper College

#21

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 582 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,802 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 168 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $5,469 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

#23

Vincennes University

Vincennes, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Vincennes University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Vincennes, Indiana, this fairly large public school handed out 536 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

Vincennes University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Vincennes University is $10,845 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Vincennes University

#24

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 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 96 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,076 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend MATC.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Milwaukee Area Technical College

#25

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
#9 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. UW - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 164 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

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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.

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