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2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

712 Ranked Colleges
262,184 Degrees Awarded
$4,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 262,184 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 712 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts programs and 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 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 For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (With Aid)

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 712 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Hillsborough Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. HCC is a fairly large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 3,253 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

HCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend HCC is $3,238 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at HCC

#2

Valencia College

Orlando, Florida
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valencia College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid. Valencia College is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 7,122 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree liberal studies students with aid list, Valencia College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $5,205 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Valencia College

#3

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 712 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Pasadena City College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, this large public school handed out 1,615 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree liberal studies students with aid list, Pasadena City College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,920 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Pasadena City College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Pasadena City College

Top 5% in overall quality

Out of the 712 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida State College at Jacksonville landed the #4 spot on the list. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 1,579 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, FSCJ also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Florida State College at Jacksonville is $3,916 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Florida State College at Jacksonville

#5

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida
#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indian River State College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid. Indian River State College is a fairly large school located in Fort Pierce, Florida that handed out 2,032 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Indian River State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indian River State College is $2,003 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Indian River State College Liberal Arts Report

#6

Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee, Florida
#17 in overall quality

Tallahassee Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 2,554 students in 2019-2020.

Tallahassee Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Tallahassee Community College is $4,048 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Tallahassee Community College

#7

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
Top 10% in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, South Texas College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 333 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

South Texas College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,174 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full South Texas College Liberal Arts Report

#8

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida
Top 10% in overall quality

St Petersburg College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. SPC is located in Clearwater, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3,098 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, SPC is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $3,226 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend St Petersburg College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at SPC

#9

Nassau Community College

Garden City, New York
#15 in overall quality

Nassau Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Nassau Community College is a fairly large school located in Garden City, New York that handed out 75 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Nassau Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Nassau Community College is $4,594 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Nassau Community College

Top 10% in overall quality

Eastern Florida State College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cocoa, Florida, and it awarded 2,275 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

EFSC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,955 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid per year to attend Eastern Florida State College.

Full Eastern Florida State College Liberal Arts Report

#16 in overall quality

Suffolk County Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Suffolk County Community College is a public institution located in Selden, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Suffolk County Community College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Suffolk County Community College is $5,533 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Suffolk County Community College

#12

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
Top 20% in overall quality

Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Palos Hills, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 682 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, MVCC is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for MVCC is $2,422 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Moraine Valley Community College

#13

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
Top 10% in overall quality

College of Lake County did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Grayslake, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 831 students in 2019-2020.

College of Lake County excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at College of Lake County

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Collin County Community College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in McKinney, Texas, and it awarded 1,640 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Collin County Community College District also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $6,293 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Collin County Community College District

#15

Florida SouthWestern State College

Fort Myers, Florida
#8 in overall quality

Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Florida SouthWestern State College is a fairly large school located in Fort Myers, Florida that handed out 2,004 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

FSW also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida SouthWestern State College is $8,100 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at FSW

#16

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Top 10% in overall quality

Oakland Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 470 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Oakland Community College is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $2,825 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts Report

Top 10% in overall quality

Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 1,804 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Cuyahoga Community College District is in the top on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $5,415 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Full Cuyahoga Community College District Liberal Arts Report

#18

Miami Dade College

Miami, Florida
Top 10% in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Miami Dade College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. MDC is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 9,082 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

MDC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Miami Dade College is $4,842 for Associate Degree Liberal Studies students with aid.

Full MDC Liberal Arts Report

#19

Florida Gateway College

Lake City, Florida
Top 20% in overall quality

Florida Gateway College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. Lake City, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 378 students in 2019-2020.

FGC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Florida Gateway College is $2,170 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts at FGC

#20

Cleveland Community College

Shelby, North Carolina

Cleveland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Shelby, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 161 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,682 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Cleveland Community College.

Full Cleveland Community College Liberal Arts Report

#21

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
Top 15% in overall quality

Pima Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 866 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Pima County Community College District also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Pima Community College is $3,583 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Pima County Community College District Liberal Arts Report

#22

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
Top 5% in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Golden West College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Huntington Beach, California, and it awarded 1,672 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Golden West College excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category. It costs about $2,862 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid per year to attend Golden West College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Golden West College

#23

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois
Top 10% in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Elgin Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 604 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

ECC excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Elgin Community College is $4,185 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Full Elgin Community College Liberal Arts Report

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. 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.

Harold Washington College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is $2,992 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Harold Washington College

Top 20% in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 427 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Wilbur Wright College excels when it comes to liberal studies quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Wilbur Wright College is $2,876 for associate degree liberal studies students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Wilbur Wright College

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas
#27

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas
#28

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
#29

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, North Carolina
#30

Pensacola State College

Pensacola, Florida
#32

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#33

Rowan College at Burlington County

Mount Laurel, New Jersey
#34

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, Florida
#35

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
#36

Pasco-Hernando State College

New Port Richey, Florida
#37

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#38

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina
#38

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois
#41

North Florida College

Madison, Florida
#43

South Florida State College

Avon Park, Florida
#44

Highline College

Des Moines, Washington
#45

Delta College

University Center, Michigan
#46

Bergen Community College

Paramus, New Jersey
#47

Seattle Central College

Seattle, Washington
#48

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois
#50

Central Texas College

Killeen, Texas

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RI
52 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY
53 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
53 Chabot College Hayward, CA
55 Metropolitan Community College Omaha, NE
56 Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY
57 Grossmont College El Cajon, CA
58 Orange County Community College Middletown, NY
59 St Charles Community College Cottleville, MO
60 College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA
61 Lake-Sumter State College Leesburg, FL
62 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
63 City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College Chicago, IL
63 Triton College River Grove, IL
65 Ventura College Ventura, CA
Rank College Location
66 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
67 Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OK
68 Shoreline Community College Shoreline, WA
69 Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH
70 Montgomery College Rockville, MD
71 Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA
72 City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL
72 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL
74 Bronx Community College Bronx, NY
75 Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO
76 Bunker Hill Community College Boston, MA
77 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
78 Trident Technical College Charleston, SC
79 McLennan Community College Waco, TX
80 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
80 Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO
82 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
83 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
83 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
85 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
86 Portland Community College Portland, OR
87 Erie Community College Buffalo, NY
88 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
89 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC
90 Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA
Rank College Location
91 North Seattle College Seattle, WA
92 Cascadia College Bothell, WA
93 Chipola College Marianna, FL
94 Palomar College San Marcos, CA
94 Pitt Community College Winterville, NC
96 Georgia Highlands College Rome, GA
97 Durham Technical Community College Durham, NC
98 Union County College Cranford, NJ
98 Middlesex Community College Bedford, MA
98 Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
101 New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY
102 College of Southern Maryland La Plata, MD
103 Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA
104 Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom Lakewood, WA
105 Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley, CA
105 Richmond Community College Hamlet, NC
107 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH

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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