2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
164
Ranked Colleges
60,741
Degrees Awarded
$5,400
Avg Net Price*
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 60,741 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,415 and $19,554 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 164 colleges that offered a degree 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Out of the 164 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #1 spot on the list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,599 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harold Washington College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,726 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 811 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Oakland Community College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $3,665 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Full Oakland Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Out of the 164 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Lake County landed the #3 spot on the list. College of Lake County is a fairly large school located in Grayslake, Illinois that handed out 1,475 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,989 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Lake County
Out of the 164 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 1,101 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $2,482 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Wilbur Wright College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Moraine Valley Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Moraine Valley Community College is a public institution located in Palos Hills, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,141 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for MVCC is $1,901 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
Full Moraine Valley Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Sugar Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 505 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Waubonsee excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $5,104 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Waubonsee.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Waubonsee Community College
Elgin Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 931 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ECC is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for ECC is $3,828 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Full ECC Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Lansing Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. LCC is a fairly large school located in Lansing, Michigan that handed out 504 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for LCC is $5,212 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lansing Community College
Joliet Junior College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 752 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $5,609 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
Full Joliet Junior College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 261 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
IUPUI also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
William Rainey Harper College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Harper College is a fairly large public school situated in Palatine, Illinois. It awarded 1,873 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harper College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,184 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Harper College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at William Rainey Harper College
With a ranking of #12, McHenry County College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. MCC is a medium-sized school located in Crystal Lake, Illinois that handed out 841 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend MCC is $7,706 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Full McHenry County College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cincinnati State is a medium-sized school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 175 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $5,532 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
Full Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 6,224 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Ivy Tech Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ivy Tech Community College
With a ranking of #15, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. LLCC is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 522 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,027 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Lincoln Land Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at LLCC
Washtenaw Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 1,473 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Washtenaw Community College is $3,624 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Full Washtenaw Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Henry Ford College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 429 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $3,194 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Full Henry Ford College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Oakton Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 818 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakton Community College is $6,423 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakton Community College
Lewis and Clark Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lewis and Clark Community College is a small public school situated in Godfrey, Illinois. It awarded 513 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Lewis and Clark Community College is $6,972 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lewis and Clark Community College
College of DuPage ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. COD is a large school located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois that handed out 962 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for COD is $6,382 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at COD
Lorain County Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Lorain County Community College is a public institution located in Elyria, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 871 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for LCCC is $2,884 for great lakes region liberal arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lorain County Community College
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 440 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,672 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Harry S Truman College
Delta College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 416 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,268 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Delta College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Delta College
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 417 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is $3,274 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Malcolm X College
Vincennes University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Vincennes University is a public institution located in Vincennes, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,373 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Vincennes University also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Vincennes University is $11,518 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students with aid.
Full Vincennes University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
