2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies 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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 172 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value 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 25 Best Great Lakes Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Liberal Arts General Studies
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 degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public college with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 a year. Liberal Arts majors at UWM Flexible Option take out an average of $11,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakland Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills.
Oakland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,200 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Oakland Community College take out is $12,585.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wayne County Community College District. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at WCCCD take out is $18,083.
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The excellent programs at Southwestern Illinois College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large suburb of Belleville, SWIC is a public college 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 $8,405 in student loans while working on their egree.
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The excellent programs at Macomb Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best 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.
Macomb Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,680 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at Macomb Community College take out an average of $8,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Macomb Community College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Delta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #6 on the list. 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 $11,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
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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 Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison College is a large public school located in the city of Madison.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Madison College are $6,769 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Madison College take out is $14,750.
Madison College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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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. Located in the rural area of Centreville, GOCC is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GOCC are $6,408 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at GOCC take out is $7,750.
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With a ranking of #9, University of Akron Wayne College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. 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 degree, liberal arts majors at University of Akron Wayne College accumulate an average of around $30,625 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $302, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #10, Stark State College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Stark State College are $7,406 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Stark State College carry an average student debtload of $16,375.
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Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at Cuyahoga Community College District accumulate an average of around $12,000 in student debt.
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Schoolcraft College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts general studies programs. 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. Liberal Arts majors at Schoolcraft College take out an average of $10,444 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Washtenaw Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a public college with a large student population.
Washtenaw Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,856 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Washtenaw Community College take out $15,316 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Milwaukee, MATC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MATC are $6,908 a year. Liberal Arts majors at MATC take out an average of $12,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cincinnati State are $9,090 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Cincinnati State take out is $14,666.
In addition to its great value ranking, Cincinnati State is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Black Hawk College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Moline, BHC is a public college with a small student population.
BHC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,650 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts majors at BHC take out an average of $7,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #16, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. LLCC is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Springfield.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LLCC are $10,068 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at LLCC accumulate an average of around $11,055 in student debt.
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Ivy Tech Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 per year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Ivy Tech Community College take out $10,905 in student loans while working on their degree.
Ivy Tech Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at IWU are $9,239 a year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at IWU accumulate an average of around $25,511 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #20, Lakeland Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. 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. On average, liberal arts graduates from Lakeland take out $11,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Mott Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies 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. On average, liberal arts graduates from MCC take out $17,081 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Sinclair Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the midsize city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Sinclair Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,076 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Sinclair Community College carry an average student debtload of $12,000.
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Monroe County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #23 on the list. Monroe County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Monroe.
Monroe County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,760 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from Monroe County Community College take out $13,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #24, Owens Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Owens State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Owens State Community College are $9,782 a year. Liberal Arts majors at Owens State Community College take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #25, Edison State Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Edison Community College are $7,626 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at Edison Community College accumulate an average of around $14,306 in student debt.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL |
| 28 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL |
| 29 | Henry Ford College | Dearborn, MI |
| 30 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 31 | Ohio University - Eastern Campus | Saint Clairsville, OH |
| 32 | Marion Technical College | Marion, OH |
| 33 | Shawnee Community College | Ullin, IL |
| 34 | Clark State Community College | Springfield, OH |
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 26 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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