2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
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.
The Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 133 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for liberal arts students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 15% Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools
Our analysis found University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex to be the best value school for liberal arts general studies students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public college with a small student population.
UWM Flexible Option undergraduate students pay an average of $6,750 in tuition and fees each year. 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 Oakland Community College is a great value for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Oakland Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Oakland Community College are $5,200 a year. Liberal Arts majors at Oakland Community College take out an average of $16,731 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Wayne County Community College District is a great value for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Detroit, WCCCD is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCCCD are $3,998 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from WCCCD carry an average student debtload of $21,143.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Southwestern Illinois College is a great value for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Belleville, SWIC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SWIC are $5,940 a year. Liberal Arts majors at SWIC take out an average of $10,772 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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The excellent associate degree programs at Macomb Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value liberal arts general studies schools in the Great Lakes Region . Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Warren.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Macomb Community College are $7,680 per year. 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.
Macomb Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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Delta College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Delta College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Delta College are $7,100 a year. 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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Madison Area Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison.
Madison College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,769 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Madison College take out an average of $17,695 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Madison College also made our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list, coming in at #4.
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Glen Oaks Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the rural area of Centreville, GOCC is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at GOCC are $6,408 a year. On average, liberal arts graduates from GOCC take out $10,419 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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University of Akron Wayne College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the rural area of Orrville, University of Akron Wayne College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Akron Wayne College are $6,505 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at University of Akron Wayne College accumulate an average of around $30,880 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $302, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Akron Wayne College Report
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Stark State College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a public school with a large student population.
Stark State College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,406 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Stark State College take out an average of $22,034 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a large public school located in the large city of Cleveland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cuyahoga Community College District are $8,586 per year. 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.
In addition to its great value ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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With a ranking of #12, Schoolcraft College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Schoolcraft College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Livonia.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Schoolcraft College are $7,574 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Schoolcraft College carry an average student debtload of $14,071.
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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Cincinnati State undergraduate students pay an average of $9,090 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Cincinnati State take out $17,072 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Cincinnati State also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
IWU undergraduate students pay an average of $9,239 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at IWU take out an average of $24,578 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
IWU also made our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list, coming in at #1.
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With a ranking of #15, Milwaukee Area Technical 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 Milwaukee, MATC is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $6,908 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from MATC carry an average student debtload of $16,135.
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Lincoln Land Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. LLCC is a small public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LLCC are $10,068 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from LLCC carry an average student debtload of $13,858.
LLCC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Black Hawk College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the small city of Moline, BHC is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BHC are $7,650 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at BHC accumulate an average of around $8,530 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #18, Lakeland Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Lakeland is a small public school located in the suburb of Kirtland.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lakeland are $8,975 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Lakeland carry an average student debtload of $16,549.
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With a ranking of #19, Mott Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. MCC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Flint.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,091 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $21,348 in student debt.
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Here are some additional great value schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Great Lakes Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN |
| 21 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH |
| 22 | Monroe County Community College | Monroe, MI |
| 23 | Edison State Community College | Piqua, OH |
| 23 | Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander, WI |
| 25 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL |
| 26 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL |
| 26 | Henry Ford College | Dearborn, MI |
Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best liberal arts general studies colleges 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 |
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Liberal Arts General Studies Related Majors for Liberal Arts
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.
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