Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

44 Colleges
$1,290 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,682 Avg Salary

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

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular subjects to study in California. With 52,773 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 2nd out of all the majors we track in the state.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 44 schools in California to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for liberal arts students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for liberal arts majors pursuing a associate degree.

Top 10 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools

#1

Los Angeles Valley College

Valley Glen, CA

Our analysis found Los Angeles Valley College to be the best value school for liberal arts general studies students who want to pursue a associate degree in California. LAVC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Valley Glen.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at LAVC are $1,238 a year.

LAVC also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

#2

West Valley College

Saratoga, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Valley College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

West Valley College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,490 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at West Valley College accumulate an average of around $11,109 in student debt.

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

#3

San Jose City College

San Jose, CA

Out of the 44 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jose City College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose City College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Jose City College are $1,366 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from San Jose City College carry an average student debtload of $8,241.

Read More…

#4

Chaffey College

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Chaffey College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in California list. Chaffey College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Rancho Cucamonga.

Chaffey College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,184 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Chaffey College accumulate an average of around $10,958 in student debt.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Chaffey College

#5

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Riverside City College is a great value for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Riverside City College are $1,420 a year. Liberal Arts majors at Riverside City College take out an average of $12,677 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#6

Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles, CA

With a ranking of #6, Los Angeles City College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Los Angeles City College are $1,238 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Los Angeles City College carry an average student debtload of $15,535.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Los Angeles City College Report

#7

Los Angeles Harbor College

Wilmington, CA

Los Angeles Harbor College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. LAHC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Wilmington.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at LAHC are $1,238 a year. Liberal Arts majors at LAHC take out an average of $9,864 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#8

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA

With a ranking of #8, Santa Ana College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Santa Ana, SAC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

SAC undergraduate students pay an average of $1,180 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from SAC carry an average student debtload of $10,928.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Santa Ana College

#9

Los Angeles Pierce College

Woodland Hills, CA

With a ranking of #9, Los Angeles Pierce College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Pierce College is a large public school located in the city of Woodland Hills.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pierce College are $1,238 per year. Liberal Arts majors at Pierce College take out an average of $16,296 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Los Angeles Pierce College Report

Los Angeles Mission College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Los Angeles Mission College is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Sylmar.

Los Angeles Mission College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,238 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Los Angeles Mission College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,788.

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

Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
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.

  • 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.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.