2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools
Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees and certificates were awarded to liberal arts general studies students, making the major the most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 851 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Top Schools for an Associate in Liberal Arts General Studies
Our 2023 rankings named American Public University System the best school in the United States for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at American Military University take out while working on their Associate Degree is $10,159.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at American Public University System Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brandman University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Irvine, Brandman is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Liberal Arts majors at Brandman take out an average of $18,359 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Brandman University Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Columbia Southern University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Columbia Southern University is a large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Columbia Southern University carry an average student debtload of $21,013.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbia Southern University Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Excelsior College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
On average, liberal arts graduates from Excelsior College take out $13,049 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Excelsior College
Out of the 851 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, National University landed the # 5 spot on the list. National University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of La Jolla.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from National University carry an average student debtload of $13,456.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at National University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex ranked #6 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public college with a small student population.
Liberal Arts majors at UWM Flexible Option take out an average of $13,206 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report
Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Sheldon.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Northwest Iowa Community College accumulate an average of around $14,875 in student debt.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwest Iowa Community College
Columbia College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Columbia College Missouri take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,597.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbia College
University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. UMGC is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at UMGC accumulate an average of around $13,959 in student debt.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Maryland Global Campus Report
Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus accumulate an average of around $16,841 in student debt.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Mountwest Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. MCTC is a small public school located in the suburb of Huntington.
On average, liberal arts graduates from MCTC take out $13,273 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public school with a small student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at St Cloud Technical and Community College accumulate an average of around $16,986 in student debt.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at St Cloud Technical and Community College
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the remote town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community and Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Northland Community and Technical College carry an average student debtload of $16,020.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Northland Community and Technical College Report
Johnson County Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. JCCC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Overland Park.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from JCCC carry an average student debtload of $12,689.
With a ranking of #15, Central Texas College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the midsize suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Central Texas College accumulate an average of around $11,548 in student debt.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Central Texas College Report
Century College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Century College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $18,772.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Century College
Rochester Community and Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Rochester.
Liberal Arts majors at Rochester Community and Technical College take out an average of $18,661 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Rochester Community and Technical College
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. UW Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh.
On average, liberal arts graduates from UW Oshkosh take out $13,547 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Florida SouthWestern State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools ranking. FSW is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fort Myers.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from FSW carry an average student debtload of $10,213.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Florida SouthWestern State College
Massachusetts Bay Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list. MassBay Community College is a small public school located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from MassBay Community College carry an average student debtload of $10,393.
With a ranking of #21, Normandale Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Normandale Community College accumulate an average of around $16,425 in student debt.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Normandale Community College
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at UWM accumulate an average of around $13,206 in student debt.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Macomb Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Warren.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Macomb Community College carry an average student debtload of $11,404.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Macomb Community College Report
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at El Centro College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $15,908.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from North Hennepin Community College carry an average student debtload of $19,456.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at North Hennepin Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This list shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 851 different United States liberal arts general studies schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools award.
Liberal Arts General Studies by Region
View the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
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Southeast |
New England |
Rocky Mountains |
Plains States |
Middle Atlantic |
Far Western US |
Southwest |
Great Lakes |
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
Rankings in Majors Related to Liberal Arts
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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