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2023 Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in Illinois

41 Ranked Colleges
14,293 Degrees Awarded
Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for veterans. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 366,996 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts is the 2nd most popular major in the United States.

Across Illinois, there were 22,500 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 14,293 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,626 and $15,120 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate” ranking looked at 41 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts programs as well as strong veteran support.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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.

Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois associate degree vets studying liberal studies.

Top 25 Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in Illinois

1
College of Lake County crest
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Grayslake, Illinois, and it awarded 792 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

College of Lake County not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Our most recent data shows that 307 of the 11,854 students enrolled at College of Lake County were GI Bill® students, of which 182 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,560. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. College of Lake County offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Full College of Lake County Veteran Student Life Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William Rainey Harper College. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 948 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree vets studying liberal studies list, Harper College has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 12,199 students enrolled at Harper College, 181 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 131 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,155. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Harper College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Harper College]](/colleges/harper-college/student-life/veterans/)

3
Waubonsee crest
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waubonsee Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 447 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Waubonsee also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 7,564 students enrolled at Waubonsee, 144 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 89 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,748. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Waubonsee offers credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Waubonsee Community College]](/colleges/waubonsee-community-college/student-life/veterans/)

4

Out of the 41 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #4 spot on the list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 824 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Harold Washington College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1.According to our most recent data, Harold Washington College supports 6,479 students, and 211 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 145 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,190. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

5
Joliet Junior College crest
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Joliet Junior College. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate. This fairly large school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 618 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Joliet Junior College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Among the 10,267 students enrolled at Joliet Junior College, 171 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 112 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,584. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Joliet Junior College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Joliet Junior College Veteran Student Life Report

6
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Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. Belleville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 451 students in 2020-2021.

Our most recent data shows that 492 of the 6,906 students enrolled at Southwestern Illinois College were GI Bill® students, of which 271 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,194. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Southwestern Illinois College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Southwestern Illinois College]](/colleges/southwestern-illinois-college/student-life/veterans/)

7
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Kaskaskia College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. This small school is located in Centralia, Illinois, and it awarded 133 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kaskaskia College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 2,785 students enrolled at Kaskaskia College, 70 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 22 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,798. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Kaskaskia College Veteran Student Life Report

8
COD crest
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, College of DuPage did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. College of DuPage is a public institution located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 848 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

COD also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 21,010 students enrolled at College of DuPage, 391 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 246 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,049. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at COD]](/colleges/college-of-dupage/student-life/veterans/)

9

With a ranking of #9, John Wood Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. This small school is located in Quincy, Illinois, and it awarded 216 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

John Wood Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, John Wood Community College supports 1,881 students, and 72 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 46 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,562. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. John Wood Community College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

10
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McHenry County College
Crystal Lake, Illinois

McHenry County College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. MCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Crystal Lake, Illinois. It awarded 392 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Of the 7,814 students enrolled at MCC, 97 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 62 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,962. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. MCC does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

11

Elgin Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 639 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 7,882 students enrolled at ECC, 144 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 100 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,559. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Elgin Community College Veteran Student Life Report

12
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Black Hawk College
Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. Located in Moline, Illinois, this small public school awarded 246 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

Of the 3,743 students enrolled at Black Hawk College, 106 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 51 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,075. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Black Hawk College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

13
Kankakee Community College crest
Kankakee Community College
Kankakee, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Kankakee Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. Kankakee Community College is located in Kankakee, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 117 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Kankakee Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Among the 2,245 students enrolled at Kankakee Community College, 56 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 24 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,951. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Kankakee Community College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

14
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Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln Land Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. LLCC is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 475 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

LLCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Of the 4,977 students enrolled at Lincoln Land Community College, 228 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 73 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,396. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Lincoln Land Community College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

15

Danville Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Danville, Illinois, this small public school awarded 104 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DACC, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 2,171 students enrolled at DACC, 72 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 42 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,499. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

16

With a ranking of #16, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 111 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

Malcolm X College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #22.Our most recent data shows that 99 of the 7,273 students enrolled at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College were GI Bill® students, of which 58 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,543. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Malcolm X College]](/colleges/city-colleges-of-chicago-malcolm-x-college/student-life/veterans/)

17

Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking, coming in at #17. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 711 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree vets studying liberal studies list, MVCC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.According to our most recent data, Moraine Valley Community College supports 11,026 students, and 121 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 72 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,294. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Moraine Valley Community College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

18
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, Illinois

Oakton Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking, coming in at #18. Oakton Community College is located in Des Plaines, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 509 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Oakton Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Of the 7,313 students enrolled at Oakton Community College, 82 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 62 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,104. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Oakton Community College Veteran Student Life Report

19
ICC crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, Illinois

Illinois Central College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in East Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 512 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

According to our most recent data, Illinois Central College supports 7,813 students, and 254 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 78 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,052. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at ICC]](/colleges/illinois-central-college/student-life/veterans/)

20

City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 167 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Harry S Truman College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15.Of the 5,186 students enrolled at City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College, 52 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 34 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,277. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

21
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, Illinois

Lake Land College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. Located in Mattoon, Illinois, this small public school handed out 289 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

Of the 3,862 students enrolled at Lake Land College, 114 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 32 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,802. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Lake Land College Veteran Student Life Report

22
Prairie State College crest
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, Illinois

Prairie State College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 260 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree vets studying liberal studies list, Prairie State College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 2,716 students enrolled at Prairie State College, 90 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 43 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,251. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Prairie State College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Prairie State College Veteran Student Life Report

23

Lewis and Clark Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. Lewis and Clark Community College is a small public school situated in Godfrey, Illinois. It awarded 190 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis and Clark Community College, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.According to our most recent data, Lewis and Clark Community College supports 4,683 students, and 82 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 42 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,895. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Lewis and Clark Community College]](/colleges/lewis-and-clark-community-college/student-life/veterans/)

24

Heartland Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate ranking. Heartland Community College is a small public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 503 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Among the 4,485 students enrolled at Heartland Community College, 163 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 79 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,572. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Heartland Community College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

25
Rock Valley College crest
Rock Valley College
Rockford, Illinois

Rock Valley College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Liberal Studies for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 568 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Rock Valley College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 5,762 students enrolled at Rock Valley College, 105 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 35 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,066. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Rock Valley College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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