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Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

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

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

Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree School for You

Liberal Arts General Studies is the most popular major in the United States with 79,412 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. 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.

The Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 86 schools in the Southwest Region 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.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Colleges.

Top 15% Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools

#1

Central Texas College

Killeen, TX

Our analysis found Central Texas College to be the best school for liberal arts general studies students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southwest Region . Located in the medium-sized suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Central Texas College carry an average student debtload of $11,548.

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#2

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means El Centro College is a great place for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas.

On average, liberal arts graduates from El Centro College take out $15,908 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.

Liberal Arts majors at Collin County Community College District take out an average of $13,712 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Collin County Community College District

#4

South Texas College

McAllen, TX

The excellent associate degree programs at South Texas College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the Southwest Region . South Texas College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of McAllen.

Liberal Arts majors at South Texas College take out an average of $7,921 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at South Texas College

Out of the 86 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Austin Community College District landed the # 5 spot on the list. Austin Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the city of Austin.

Liberal Arts majors at Austin Community College District take out an average of $16,940 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Austin Community College District

Mesa 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 #6 on the list. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Mesa.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Mesa Community College take out $15,865 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Mesa Community College Report

Chandler-Gilbert Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the large city of Chandler, Chandler-Gilbert Community College is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Chandler-Gilbert Community College carry an average student debtload of $10,704.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Chandler-Gilbert Community College Report

#8

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Lone Star College System 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 #8 on the list. Located in the midsize city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, liberal arts graduates from North Harris Montgomery take out $14,018 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#9

Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX

Wayland Baptist University 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 #9 on the list. Located in the remote town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Wayland Baptist University Report

McLennan Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the midsize city of Waco, MCC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $17,687 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #11, Tarrant County College District did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Tarrant County College carry an average student debtload of $14,884.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Tarrant County College District

#12

Phoenix College

Phoenix, AZ

With a ranking of #12, Phoenix College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Phoenix College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,050.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Southwest Region that almost earned our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
13 Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OK
14 Northland Pioneer College Holbrook, AZ
15 Midland College Midland, TX
16 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
17 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
Texas 55,869
Arizona 8,087
Oklahoma 3,298
New Mexico 3,989

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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