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Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

133 Colleges
$24,682 Avg Salary
$12,147 Avg Student Debt

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.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 133 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Check out the liberal arts associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools

Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex the best school in the Great Lakes Region for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at UWM Flexible Option accumulate an average of around $13,206 in student debt.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a great place for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. UW Oshkosh is a large public school located in the small city of Oshkosh.

Liberal Arts majors at UW Oshkosh take out an average of $13,547 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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Out of the 133 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from UWM carry an average student debtload of $13,206.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macomb Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Macomb Community College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Warren.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Macomb Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $11,404.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a great place for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public school with a large student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of around $16,009 in student debt.

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William Rainey Harper College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public school with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Harper College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $10,983.

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Lincoln Land 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. LLCC is a small public school located in the city of Springfield.

After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from LLCC carry an average student debtload of $13,858.

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With a ranking of #8, Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Cuyahoga Community College District is a large public school located in the large city of Cleveland.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Cuyahoga Community College District take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,072.

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#9

Vincennes University

Vincennes, IN

Vincennes University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Vincennes University is a fairly large public school located in the town of Vincennes.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Vincennes University take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,798.

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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Cincinnati State take out $17,072 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Liberal Arts majors at IWU take out an average of $24,578 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#12

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids 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. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Grand Rapids.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Grand Rapids Community College take out $15,317 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the large city of Chicago, Harold Washington College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Harold Washington College accumulate an average of around $11,539 in student debt.

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#14

Xavier University

Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Xavier is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati.

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#15

Delta College

University Center, MI

Delta College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delta College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.

Liberal Arts majors at Delta College take out an average of $14,943 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#16

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, IL

Waubonsee Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Waubonsee is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove.

Liberal Arts majors at Waubonsee take out an average of $9,193 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at UW - Green Bay take out while working on their Associate Degree is $13,887.

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#18

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL

Joliet Junior College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Liberal Arts majors at Joliet Junior College take out an average of $10,422 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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Indiana Wesleyan University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Liberal Arts majors at IWU take out an average of $24,578 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University Report

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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 in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
20 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
21 Stark State College North Canton, OH
22 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH
23 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI
24 Elgin Community College Elgin, IL
25 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
25 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts general studies schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 9,711
Ohio 11,432
Illinois 18,292
Indiana 3,815
Wisconsin 2,376

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 26 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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