2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in California (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 / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 California, there were 112,019 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,678 and $19,082 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 48,396 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 58 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in California (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pasadena City College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,658 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Pasadena City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pasadena City College is $2,920 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Full Pasadena City College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden West College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Golden West College is a fairly large public school situated in Huntington Beach, California. It awarded 2,145 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Golden West College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $2,862 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid per year to attend Golden West College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Golden West College
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Chabot College landed the #3 spot on the list. Chabot College is located in Hayward, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 408 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
Chabot College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Chabot College is $4,192 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Chabot College
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Grossmont College landed the #4 spot on the list. El Cajon, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 786 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid list, Grossmont College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,897 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid per year to attend Grossmont College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Grossmont College
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, College of the Sequoias landed the #5 spot on the list. College of the Sequoias is a public institution located in Visalia, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 909 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $1,116 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at College of the Sequoias
Ventura College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Ventura College is a fairly large public school situated in Ventura, California. It awarded 929 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid list, Ventura College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ventura College is $1,514 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Full Ventura College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Santa Ana College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Santa Ana, California, and it awarded 1,066 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SAC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Ana College is $3,801 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Santa Ana College
With a ranking of #8, Riverside City College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 1,906 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
Riverside City College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $4,620 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid per year to attend Riverside City College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Riverside City College
Palomar College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Palomar College is a large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 283 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Palomar College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Palomar College is $3,673 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Palomar College
Orange Coast College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 481 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Orange Coast College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Orange Coast College is $3,178 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Orange Coast College
With a ranking of #11, Moreno Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Moreno Valley College is a medium-sized school located in Moreno Valley, California that handed out 1,057 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Moreno Valley College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Moreno Valley College is $4,633 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Moreno Valley College
Cerritos College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Norwalk, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 298 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $4,022 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid per year to attend Cerritos College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cerritos College
With a ranking of #13, City College of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 180 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
City College of San Francisco also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,267 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid per year to attend City College of San Francisco.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at City College of San Francisco
With a ranking of #14, Los Angeles Pierce College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Woodland Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 1,722 students in 2019-2020.
Pierce College also took the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pierce College is $9,875 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Pierce College
MiraCosta College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 755 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MiraCosta College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MiraCosta College is $1,682 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at MiraCosta College
With a ranking of #16, Norco College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Norco, California, and it awarded 897 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid list, Norco College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Norco College is $5,099 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Norco College
Santa Barbara City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Santa Barbara City College is a fairly large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 1,027 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
SBCC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Barbara City College is $7,556 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at SBCC
West Valley College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. West Valley College is a medium-sized school located in Saratoga, California that handed out 232 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
West Valley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,791 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid per year to attend West Valley College.
Full West Valley College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Imperial Valley College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Imperial, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 378 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Imperial Valley College is $1,111 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at IVC
Rio Hondo College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. RHCCD is located in Whittier, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 555 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Rio Hondo College is $5,487 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at RHCCD
With a ranking of #21, Yuba College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Marysville, California, and it awarded 34 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,555 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid per year to attend Yuba College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Yuba College
Saddleback College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Mission Viejo, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 1,086 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Saddleback College is $4,246 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Saddleback College
Los Medanos College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Pittsburg, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 516 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Los Medanos is $5,162 for California Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with aid.
Full Los Medanos College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
El Camino College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Torrance, California, this large public school handed out 1,006 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
El Camino College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $9,434 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid per year to attend El Camino College.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at El Camino College
Los Angeles Harbor College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Wilmington, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 1,078 students in 2019-2020.
LAHC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,334 for california associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students with aid per year to attend LAHC.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at LAHC
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
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