2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 Plains States region, there were 31,703 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,800 and $15,275 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 27,020 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 94 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts general studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Featured schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
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 “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 548 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College
Out of the 94 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, St Charles Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Cottleville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 525 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,993 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend SCC.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at St Charles Community College
Out of the 94 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Louis Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Saint Louis Community College is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,377 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Saint Louis Community College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Louis Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 1,299 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $10,076 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College
Out of the 94 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #5 spot on the list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 1,147 students in 2019-2020.
MCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $7,066 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City.
Southeastern Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. West Burlington, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 216 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $7,223 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 314 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
St Cloud Technical and Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,019 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at St Cloud Technical and Community College
Normandale Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 687 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Normandale Community College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,620 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Normandale Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Normandale Community College
With a ranking of #9, Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. OTC is a fairly large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 749 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,908 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend OTC.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 730 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,939 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.
Full Kirkwood Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #11, Hutchinson Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Hutchinson Community College is a small public school situated in Hutchinson, Kansas. It awarded 572 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Hutchinson Community College is $7,922 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Hutchinson Community College
With a ranking of #12, Marshalltown Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Marshalltown, Iowa, and it awarded 152 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $7,456 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Marshalltown Community College
Bismarck State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 405 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
BSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend BSC is $9,420 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.
Full Bismarck State College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Century College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Century College is a medium-sized school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 400 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid list, Century College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,808 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Century College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Century College
Southeast Community College Area landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 90 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Southeast Community College is $9,059 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Full Southeast Community College Area Liberal Arts General Studies Report
North Hennepin Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 292 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
North Hennepin Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $10,284 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at North Hennepin Community College
Moberly Area Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Moberly, Missouri, and it awarded 527 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Moberly Area Community College is $7,143 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.
State Fair Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. State Fair Community College is located in Sedalia, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 424 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend State Fair Community College is $4,349 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Full State Fair Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Coffeyville Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Coffeyville Community College is a public institution located in Coffeyville, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 228 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Coffeyville Community College is $5,377 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Coffeyville Community College
With a ranking of #20, Cowley County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cowley College is a small school located in Arkansas City, Kansas that handed out 320 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cowley College is $7,908 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Cowley County Community College
Mid-Plains Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mid-Plains Community College is a small school located in North Platte, Nebraska that handed out 176 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Mid-Plains Community College is $6,533 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.
Full Mid-Plains Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
North Iowa Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. North Iowa Area Community College is a small public school situated in Mason City, Iowa. It awarded 405 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,409 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend North Iowa Area Community College.
Full North Iowa Area Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Crowder College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Neosho, Missouri, this small public school awarded 294 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,080 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Crowder College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Crowder College
Inver Hills Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 326 students in 2019-2020.
IHCC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,486 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Inver Hills Community College.
Johnson County Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 1,207 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.
JCCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $12,632 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Johnson County Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Johnson County Community College
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Rocky Mountains Region (With Aid)
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region (With Aid)
Southwest
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
New England
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the New England Region (With Aid)
Plains States
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Far Western US
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
Great Lakes
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Narrow Results by State
Kansas
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Kansas (With Aid)
Iowa
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa (With Aid)
North Dakota
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in North Dakota (With Aid)
Nebraska
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Nebraska (With Aid)
Minnesota
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Minnesota (With Aid)
South Dakota
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in South Dakota (With Aid)
Missouri
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Missouri (With Aid)
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
Highest Paid Associate Degree Liberal Arts General Studies Graduates in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Liberal Arts General Studies students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts General Studies students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
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
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |