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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

143 Ranked Colleges
41,983 Degrees Awarded
$4,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 65,409 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,947 and $17,710 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 41,983 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 143 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Moraine Valley Community College is a fairly large school located in Palos Hills, Illinois that handed out 978 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, MVCC has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MVCC is $1,513 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#2

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakland Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 1,305 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $1,614 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#3

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 604 students in 2019-2020.

ECC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Elgin Community College is $3,717 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Elgin Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#4

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 862 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, College of Lake County has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,136 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend College of Lake County.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Lake County

Out of the 143 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #5 spot on the list. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,804 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cuyahoga Community College District, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,996 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cuyahoga Community College District

City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wilbur Wright College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 602 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wilbur Wright College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Wilbur Wright College is $3,204 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College

City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 806 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Harold Washington College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $3,155 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Harold Washington College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Harold Washington College

#8

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 1,001 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Harper College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William Rainey Harper College is $6,497 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Harper College

#9

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

College of DuPage ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Glen Ellyn, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 759 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, COD has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,455 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend COD.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of DuPage

#10

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lincoln Land Community College is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 548 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

LLCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for LLCC is $4,819 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full LLCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

Delta College

University Center, Michigan

Delta College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 917 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Delta College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Delta College is $2,849 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Delta College

Lorain County Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. LCCC is a public institution located in Elyria, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 937 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,915 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend LCCC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lorain County Community College

#13

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois

Waubonsee Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Waubonsee Community College is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 547 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Waubonsee is $3,432 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Waubonsee

#14

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois

Triton College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. River Grove, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 460 students in 2019-2020.

Triton College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Triton College is $4,579 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Triton College

#15

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

Joliet Junior College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 752 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Joliet Junior College is $4,134 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Joliet Junior College

Columbus State Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbus State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,340 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbus State also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Columbus State Community College is $5,861 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Columbus State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Malcolm X College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 239 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is $3,784 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Malcolm X College

#18

South Suburban College

South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in South Holland, Illinois, this small public school handed out 178 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,169 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SSC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at SSC

#19

Carl Sandburg College

Galesburg, Illinois

With a ranking of #19, Carl Sandburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carl Sandburg College is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 191 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Carl Sandburg College is $1,963 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Carl Sandburg College

City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 246 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is $4,468 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Harry S Truman College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#21

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 582 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College is $3,842 for great lakes region associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College

#22

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 406 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $3,039 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Henry Ford College

#23

St Clair County Community College

Port Huron, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, St Clair County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Port Huron, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 563 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,930 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St Clair County Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at SC4

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cincinnati State is a medium-sized school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 168 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $4,292 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

#25

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. BHC is a small school located in Moline, Illinois that handed out 227 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend BHC is $4,827 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Black Hawk College

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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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