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2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

102 Colleges in the Southwest Region
56,574 Associate Degrees
$27,385 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 looked at 102 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 56,574 associate degrees in liberal arts general studies to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

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

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region Your choice of liberal arts general studies for getting your associate degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

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

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

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

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

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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 Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest 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 Southwest 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 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

20 Top Southwest Region Schools for an Associate in Liberal Arts

1

Eastern Arizona College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the remote town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

After graduating, liberal arts associate recipients generally earn around $26,145 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Eastern Arizona College

2
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, TX
5,276 Annual Graduates
$33,060 Median Starting Salary

El Centro College 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 Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from El Centro College earn $5,675 more than the typical liberal arts graduate.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from El Centro College

3
4,102 Annual Graduates
$30,179 Median Starting Salary

It's difficult to beat Tarrant County College District if you want to pursue an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the large city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from Tarrant County College District receive $2,794 more than the average liberal arts graduate.

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

4

Every student who is interested in an associate degree in liberal arts general studies needs to take a look at Oklahoma City Community College. OCCC is a large public college located in the large city of Oklahoma City.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies major at Oklahoma City Community College make $7,241 above the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

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

5

Pima County Community College District is a fairly large public college located in the large city of Tucson.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from Pima Community College receive $3,617 more than the average liberal arts grad.

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

6
1,612 Annual Graduates
$38,436 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Austin Community College District receive an earnings boost of around $11,051 over the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies graduates.

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

7
2,783 Annual Graduates
$32,114 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from Collin County Community College District receive $4,729 more than the average liberal arts grad.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Collin County Community College District

8
1,775 Annual Graduates
$29,423 Median Starting Salary

Houston Community College is a fairly large public college located in the large city of Houston.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Houston Community College earn a boost of approximately $2,038 over the average income of liberal arts general studies majors.

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

9

MCC is a medium-sized public college located in the medium-sized city of Waco.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from McLennan Community College get an earnings boost of approximately $3,305 above the average income of liberal arts general studies graduates.

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

10
North Harris Montgomery crest
Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX
5,788 Annual Graduates
$27,180 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program state that they receive average early career wages of $27,180.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Lone Star College System

11

CNM is a fairly large public college located in the city of Albuquerque.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from Central New Mexico Community College earn $3,712 more than the standard liberal arts graduate.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Central New Mexico Community College

12

Located in the rural area of Holbrook, NPC is a public college with a small student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career wages of $17,129.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Northland Pioneer College

13

Mesa Community College is a large public college located in the city of Mesa.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies degree program at Mesa Community College make $18,699 above the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

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

14
1,389 Annual Graduates
$20,366 Median Starting Salary

Located in the midsize city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn an average of $20,366 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from South Texas College

15
436 Annual Graduates

Estrella Mountain Community College is a fairly large public college located in the suburb of Avondale.More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Estrella Mountain Community College

16
46 Annual Graduates

Located in the remote town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Wayland Baptist University

17
11 Annual Graduates

Located in the town of Bartlesville, OKWU or OWU is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University

18
Northwest Vista College crest
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, TX
2,086 Annual Graduates
$25,952 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a public college with a large student population.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make about $25,952 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Northwest Vista College

19
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix College is a fairly large public college located in the city of Phoenix.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies program at Phoenix College get $4,324 above the typical college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

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

20

Located in the medium-sized city of Las Cruces, NMSU Dona Ana is a public university with a moderately-sized student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make about $27,868 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Rest of the Top Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

Honorable Mentions

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 Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
21 Central Texas College Killeen, TX
22 Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OK
23 Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ
24 Brazosport College Lake Jackson, TX
25 Cisco College Cisco, TX
26 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
27 Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ
28 Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Portales, NM
29 Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ
30 Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ
31 Odessa College Odessa, TX
32 Lee College Baytown, TX
33 New Mexico Military Institute Roswell, NM
34 Grayson College Denison, TX

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

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

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Texas 200 52,238
Arizona 169 7,052
New Mexico 140 3,389
Oklahoma 136 1,908

View All Rankings >

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of 0 different types of Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities programs to choose from.

Liberal Arts Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Studies 39,233
Liberal Arts 17,168
Individualized Studies 116
Humanities 57

Notes and References

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