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2025 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

15 Colleges in Iowa
4,435 Associate Degrees
$28,258 Avg Early-Career Salary
Liberal Arts General Studies is of the hottest associate degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #1 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

College Factual reviewed 15 schools in Iowa to determine which ones were the best for associate degree seekers in the field of liberal arts general studies. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 4,435 associate degrees in liberal arts general studies during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Liberal Arts General Studies School for Your Associate Degree

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa The liberal arts associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality liberal arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Liberal Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for liberal arts general studies students seeking a an associate degree.

10 Top Iowa Schools for an Associate in Liberal Arts

1
934 Annual Graduates
$31,453 Median Starting Salary
$8,000 Median Student Debt

It is difficult to beat Des Moines Area Community College if you want to pursue an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Associate recipients from the liberal arts general studies major at Des Moines Area Community College earn $3,195 above the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Des Moines Area Community College

2
461 Annual Graduates
$23,747 Median Starting Salary
$5,750 Median Student Debt

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in liberal arts general studies needs to take a look at Iowa Central Community College. Iowa Central Community College is a small public college located in the remote town of Fort Dodge.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $23,747 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Iowa Central Community College

3
321 Annual Graduates
$28,291 Median Starting Salary
$9,905 Median Student Debt

Iowa Western Community College is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After graduating, liberal arts associate recipients usually earn an average of $28,291 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Iowa Western Community College

4

Hawkeye Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting an associate degree in liberal arts general studies. Hawkeye Community College is a small public college located in the rural area of Waterloo.

Liberal Arts General Studies associate degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College receive an earnings boost of around $2,063 over the average income of liberal arts general studies majors.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Hawkeye Community College

5
Southeastern Community College crest
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, IA

Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make about $24,968 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Southeastern Community College

6

Marshalltown Community College is a small public college located in the distant town of Marshalltown.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program state that they receive average early career income of $29,836.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Marshalltown Community College

7
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA
660 Annual Graduates
$29,838 Median Starting Salary
$5,710 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the liberal arts program report average early career earnings of $29,838.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Kirkwood Community College

8

North Iowa Area Community College is a small public college located in the rural area of Mason City.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $27,433 for their early career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from North Iowa Area Community College

9

IHCC is a small public college located in the remote town of Ottumwa.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program make around $27,483 for their early career.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Indian Hills Community College

10

Located in the remote town of Creston, SWCC is a public college with a small student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the liberal arts program earn about $28,706 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in liberal arts general studies from Southwestern Community College

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 151 6,170
Kansas 146 5,695
Missouri 117 6,940
Nebraska 98 1,161
South Dakota 93 101
North Dakota 92 778

View All Rankings >

One of 0 majors within the Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities area of study, Liberal Arts General Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Liberal Arts Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts 4,194
General Studies 228
Individualized Studies 13

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