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Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region

155 Colleges
$27,412 Avg Salary
$14,920 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies School for You

Liberal Arts General Studies is the most popular major in the United States with 142,446 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. 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.

The Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 155 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for liberal arts majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

#1

Brandman University

Irvine, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Brandman University the best school in the Far Western US Region for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the city of Irvine, Brandman is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Brandman take out is $21,000.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Brandman University

#2

National University

La Jolla, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend National University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region list. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of La Jolla.

Liberal Arts majors at National University take out an average of $19,094 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at National University Report

#3

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA

Out of the 155 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola Marymount University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Loyola Marymount take out $18,945 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Loyola Marymount University Report

The excellent programs at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the Far Western US Region . Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Liberal Arts majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out an average of $18,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $312.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#6

Los Angeles Valley College

Valley Glen, CA

With a ranking of #6, Los Angeles Valley College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. LAVC is a large public school located in the city of Valley Glen.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at LAVC take out is $9,409.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Los Angeles Valley College

#7

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA

With a ranking of #7, Bellevue College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the city of Bellevue, BC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at BC accumulate an average of around $10,020 in student debt.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Bellevue College Report

University of Alaska Anchorage did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #8 on the list. UAA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Anchorage.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at UAA accumulate an average of around $13,125 in student debt.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Alaska Anchorage

Saint Mary’s College of California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Moraga, SMC is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from SMC carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California

#10

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA

Westmont College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Westmont is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Santa Barbara.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Westmont carry an average student debtload of $22,000.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Westmont College Report

#11

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cuesta College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Read More…

#12

South Seattle College

Seattle, WA

South Seattle College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #12 on the list. South Seattle is a small public school located in the large city of Seattle.

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

Columbia Basin College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. CBC is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Pasco.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbia Basin College Report

#14

Seattle University

Seattle, WA

Seattle University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Seattle U is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Seattle.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at Seattle U accumulate an average of around $23,166 in student debt.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Seattle University Report

#15

Cascadia College

Bothell, WA

With a ranking of #15, Cascadia College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. Cascadia College is a small public school located in the large suburb of Bothell.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Cascadia College carry an average student debtload of $6,849.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cascadia College

#16

West Valley College

Saratoga, CA

With a ranking of #16, West Valley College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the large suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at West Valley College

#17

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA

East Los Angeles College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park.

On average, liberal arts graduates from East Los Angeles College take out $7,627 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at East Los Angeles College Report

University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the small suburb of Fairbanks, UAF is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Liberal Arts majors at UAF take out an average of $18,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Alaska Fairbanks Report

#19

Thomas Aquinas College

Santa Paula, CA

With a ranking of #19, Thomas Aquinas College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. TAC is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Santa Paula.

On average, liberal arts graduates from TAC take out $18,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Thomas Aquinas College

#20

Shoreline Community College

Shoreline, WA

Shoreline Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Shoreline, Shoreline Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Liberal Arts majors at Shoreline Community College take out an average of $8,250 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Shoreline Community College Report

Washington State University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the distant town of Pullman, Wazzu is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Wazzu take out is $25,115. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $233, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Washington State University Report

#22

Whitworth University

Spokane, WA

Whitworth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #22 on the list. Whitworth is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Spokane.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Whitworth take out is $36,582.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Whitworth University Report

Oregon Coast Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the rural area of Newport, Oregon Coast Community College is a public college with a small student population.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Oregon Coast Community College take out $16,323 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
24 Highline College Des Moines, WA
25 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
26 Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CA
27 Cerritos College Norwalk, CA
28 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA
29 Portland Community College Portland, OR
30 Merced College Merced, CA
31 Eastern Oregon University La Grande, OR

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts general studies schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
California 52,773
Washington 17,408
Oregon 8,599
Nevada 1,679
Hawaii 2,024
Alaska 417

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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