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

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

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

133 Colleges
$7,487 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,682 Avg Salary

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.

2023 Best Value 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 value for your educational dollar.

Top 15% Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools

Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public school 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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#2

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, MI

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland Community College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oakland Community College are $5,200 per year. Liberal Arts majors at Oakland Community College take out an average of $16,731 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakland Community College Report

The excellent associate degree programs at Wayne County Community College District helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value liberal arts general studies schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large city of Detroit, WCCCD is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCCCD are $3,998 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from WCCCD carry an average student debtload of $21,143.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Wayne County Community College District Report

The excellent associate degree programs at Southwestern Illinois College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value liberal arts general studies schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large suburb of Belleville, SWIC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWIC are $5,940 per 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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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Macomb Community College is a great value for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Warren.

Macomb Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,680 in tuition and fees each 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.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Macomb Community College also is in the top 5% of our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Macomb Community College

#6

Delta College

University Center, MI

With a ranking of #6, Delta College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Delta College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.

Delta College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,100 in tuition and fees each 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.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 per 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 did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Madison Area Technical College

#8

Glen Oaks Community College

Centreville, MI

With a ranking of #8, Glen Oaks Community 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 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.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Glen Oaks Community College Report

University of Akron Wayne College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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

#10

Stark State College

North Canton, OH

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 suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Stark State College are $7,406 a year. Liberal Arts majors at Stark State College take out an average of $22,034 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Stark State College Report

With a ranking of #11, Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Cuyahoga Community College District is a large public school located in the 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.

Cuyahoga Community College District excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Cuyahoga Community College District Report

#12

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, MI

Schoolcraft 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. Schoolcraft College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Livonia.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Schoolcraft College are $7,574 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Schoolcraft College carry an average student debtload of $14,071.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Schoolcraft College

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 city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cincinnati State are $9,090 per year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Cincinnati State take out $17,072 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

In addition to its great value ranking, Cincinnati State is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

With a ranking of #14, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IWU are $9,239 per year. Liberal Arts majors at IWU take out an average of $24,578 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

IWU did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Milwaukee, MATC is a public college with a large student population.

MATC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,908 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from MATC carry an average student debtload of $16,135.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Milwaukee Area Technical College Report

#16

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, IL

Lincoln Land Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. LLCC is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Springfield.

LLCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,068 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from LLCC carry an average student debtload of $13,858.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, LLCC 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.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Lincoln Land Community College Report

#17

Black Hawk College

Moline, IL

Black Hawk College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Moline, BHC is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BHC are $7,650 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at BHC accumulate an average of around $8,530 in student debt.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Black Hawk College Report

#18

Lakeland Community College

Kirtland, OH

Lakeland 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 #18 on the list. Lakeland is a small public school located in the suburb of Kirtland.

Lakeland undergraduate students pay an average of $8,975 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Lakeland carry an average student debtload of $16,549.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lakeland Community College

Mott Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. MCC is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Flint.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $7,091 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $21,348 in student debt.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Mott Community College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

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 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 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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