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

132 Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
37,944 Associate Degrees
$30,008 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.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 132 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 37,944 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 schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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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 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 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

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

1
Vincennes University crest
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN

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

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies major at Vincennes University make $8,588 above the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

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

2

Lincoln Land Community College is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the rural area of Springfield, LLCC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College receive an earnings boost of about $4,156 above the typical earnings of liberal arts general studies majors.

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

3
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
1,438 Annual Graduates
$26,524 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in liberal arts general studies needs to check out Ivy Tech Community College. Located in the large 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 about $26,524 in the first couple years of working.

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

4

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the large 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 about $6,639 above the average income of liberal arts general studies majors.

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

5
227 Annual Graduates
$31,901 Median Starting Salary
$14,108 Median Student Debt

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

Soon after graduating, liberal arts associate recipients typically make around $31,901 in their early careers.

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

6
252 Annual Graduates

UW - Green Bay is a fairly large public university located in the city of Green Bay.More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

7

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

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program state that they receive average early career earnings of $27,597.

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

8
1,036 Annual Graduates
$28,760 Median Starting Salary

Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public college located in the city of Cleveland.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career wages of $28,760.

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

9
1,093 Annual Graduates
$27,619 Median Starting Salary

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

Soon after graduation, liberal arts associate recipients usually make an average of $27,619 in their early careers.

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

10

UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public university located in the town of Whitewater.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater earn a boost of about $3,306 above the average income of liberal arts general studies graduates.

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

11
1,116 Annual Graduates
$29,791 Median Starting Salary

Located in the midsize city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $29,791 for their early career.

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

12
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

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

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from Oakland Community College earn $7,339 more than the standard liberal arts student.

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

13

College of Lake County is a fairly large public college located in the large suburb of Grayslake.

Those liberal arts general studies students who get their associate degree from College of Lake County make $3,405 more than the typical liberal arts grad.

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

14

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

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global receive an earnings boost of around $13,503 over the typical income of liberal arts general studies majors.

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

15
400 Annual Graduates
$34,969 Median Starting Salary
$21,762 Median Student Debt

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

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Kent State University at Stark earn a boost of about $4,961 over the typical income of liberal arts general studies graduates.

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

16

Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a large student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career income of $29,018.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Madison Area Technical College

17

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

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies program at Grand Rapids Community College make $3,769 more than the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

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

18
Delta College crest
Delta College
University Center, MI

Delta College is a moderately-sized public college located in the rural area of University Center.

Soon after graduation, liberal arts associate recipients generally make an average of $28,721 in their early careers.

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

19

Located in the medium-sized 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 state that they receive average early career wages of $25,377.

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

20

Located in the town of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University earn a boost of about $13,503 over the average income of liberal arts general studies graduates.

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

21
SSC crest
South Suburban College
South Holland, IL

SSC is a small public college located in the suburb of South Holland.

After graduating, liberal arts associate recipients generally earn around $28,465 at the beginning of their careers.

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

22
1,143 Annual Graduates
$30,703 Median Starting Salary

WCCCD is a large public college located in the large city of Detroit.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career wages of $30,703.

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

23
COD crest
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL

COD is a very large public college located in the large suburb of Glen Ellyn.

After graduating, liberal arts associate recipients usually earn around $28,678 in the first five years of their career.

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

24
84 Annual Graduates
$34,969 Median Starting Salary
$21,762 Median Student Debt

Located in the rural area of Burton, Kent State University at Geauga is a public university with a small student population.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies major at Kent State University at Geauga get $4,961 more than the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

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

25
Rock Valley College crest
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL

Located in the midsize city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Soon after graduation, liberal arts associate recipients generally make around $27,601 in the first five years of their career.

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

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

26

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
27 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
28 Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH
29 Ohio State University - Newark Campus Newark, OH
30 Mott Community College Flint, MI
31 Illinois Central College East Peoria, IL
32 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL
33 Kent State University at Trumbull Warren, OH
34 Ball State University Muncie, IN
35 Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI
36 Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI
37 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
38 Kent State University at Tuscarawas New Philadelphia, OH
39 Kankakee Community College Kankakee, IL
40 Rend Lake College Ina, IL
41 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH
42 Kent State University at Ashtabula Ashtabula, OH
43 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI
44 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL

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 25,596
General Studies 7,695
Individualized Studies 3,411
Humanities 1,242

Notes and References

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