Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

41 Ranked Colleges
14,240 Degrees Awarded
$4,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 365,980 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.

Across Illinois, there were 23,860 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 14,240 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,469 and $14,548 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 41 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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 program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools

The liberal studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. MVCC is a fairly large public school situated in Palos Hills, Illinois. It awarded 682 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

MVCC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $340 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Moraine Valley Community College.

Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts Report

#2

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 41 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 604 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

ECC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for ECC is $2,384 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at ECC

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 427 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Wilbur Wright College also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $2,127 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wilbur Wright College.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Liberal Arts Report

#4

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 41 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Lake County landed the #4 spot on the list. College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 831 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $3,742 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend College of Lake County.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at College of Lake County

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 41 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #5 spot on the list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 698 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Harold Washington College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harold Washington College is $2,452 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Harold Washington College Liberal Arts Report

#6

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

College of DuPage did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Glen Ellyn, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 621 students in 2019-2020.

COD also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend COD is $5,478 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at College of DuPage

#7

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Waubonsee Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 474 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Waubonsee has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $2,818 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waubonsee Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Waubonsee Community College

#8

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

William Rainey Harper College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 903 students in 2019-2020.

Harper College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $5,913 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William Rainey Harper College.

Full Harper College Liberal Arts Report

#9

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. LLCC is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 452 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at LLCC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Land Community College is $3,915 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Lincoln Land Community College Liberal Arts Report

#10

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Triton College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. River Grove, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 335 students in 2019-2020.

Triton College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $4,546 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Triton College.

Full Triton College Liberal Arts Report

#11

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 578 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Joliet Junior College is $4,699 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Joliet Junior College Liberal Arts Report

#16 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 169 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Harry S Truman College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Harry S Truman College is $4,404 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College

#18 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 110 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Malcolm X College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Malcolm X College is $3,251 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College

#14

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

South Suburban College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Suburban College is a public institution located in South Holland, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 167 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SSC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SSC is $3,866 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at South Suburban College

#15

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Black Hawk College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Black Hawk College is a public institution located in Moline, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 215 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BHC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Black Hawk College is $3,234 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Black Hawk College

#16

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Oakton Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 517 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Oakton Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $5,195 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakton Community College.

Full Oakton Community College Liberal Arts Report

#17

Lake Land College

Mattoon, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Lake Land College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lake Land College is a public institution located in Mattoon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 441 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Land College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lake Land College is $2,857 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Lake Land College Liberal Arts Report

#18

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Illinois Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. ICC is a medium-sized public school situated in East Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 745 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

ICC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Central College is $7,656 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Illinois Central College

#19

Danville Area Community College

Danville, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Danville Area Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DACC is a public institution located in Danville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 136 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

DACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend DACC is $4,416 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at DACC

With a ranking of #20, City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 170 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Richard J Daley College is $2,310 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College

City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school handed out 117 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College is $4,115 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College

#22

Kankakee Community College

Kankakee, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

Kankakee Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kankakee, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Kankakee Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kankakee Community College is $5,202 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Kankakee Community College

#23

McHenry County College

Crystal Lake, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, McHenry County College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and it awarded 377 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

MCC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MCC is $5,620 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at McHenry County College

Illinois Valley Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IVCC is a small public school situated in Oglesby, Illinois. It awarded 105 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,715 for Illinois Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IVCC.

Full IVCC Liberal Arts Report

#25

Shawnee Community College

Ullin, Illinois

Shawnee Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Shawnee Community College is a public institution located in Ullin, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 129 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,196 for illinois associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Shawnee Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Shawnee Community College

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.

Featured Liberal Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You