by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 Iowa, there were 5,969 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,629 and $16,466 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in liberal arts general studies.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa liberal arts students.
Out of the 39 schools in the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. DMACC is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 1,170 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kirkwood Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 822 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kirkwood Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Iowa Community College District. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. This medium-sized school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 536 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa Western Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Council Bluffs, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 493 students in 2020-2021.
Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa Central Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It awarded 426 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Iowa Central Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
North Iowa Area Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Mason City, Iowa, this small public school handed out 373 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at North Iowa Area Community College
With a ranking of #7, Hawkeye Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 278 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Full Hawkeye Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Southeastern Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. West Burlington, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 248 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College
Indian Hills Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 234 students in 2020-2021.
University of Iowa came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 221 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Northeast Iowa Community College is a small school located in Calmar, Iowa that handed out 160 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Northeast Iowa Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Iowa Lakes Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Estherville, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 146 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Lakes Community College
Marshalltown Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 144 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Marshalltown Community College
Southwestern Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. SWCC is a small public school situated in Creston, Iowa. It awarded 137 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 124 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Iowa State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 80 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full Iowa State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Ellsworth Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Ellsworth is a small school located in Iowa Falls, Iowa that handed out 78 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Northern Iowa came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 68 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #19. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small school located in Sheldon, Iowa that handed out 63 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Northwest Iowa Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Upper Iowa University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Fayette, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 53 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Full Upper Iowa University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Maharishi International University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Maharishi International University is a small school located in Fairfield, Iowa that handed out 21 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Maharishi International University
Grand View University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Grand View University
Simpson College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Indianola, Iowa. It awarded 14 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Simpson College
Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Graceland University - Lamoni is located in Lamoni, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Dordt University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #25. Dordt is a small school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 8 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies