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Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools

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2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

184 Colleges
$5,297 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$23,818 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate 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.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. 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.

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 Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. This report analyzed 184 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value undergraduate certificate programs for liberal arts students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States

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

Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Liberal Arts General Studies

#1

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA

Our 2023 rankings named Delgado Community College the best value school in the United States for liberal arts general studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Delgado Community College is a large public school located in the large city of New Orleans.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delgado Community College are $4,079 per year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, liberal arts graduates from Delgado Community College carry an average student debtload of $24,845.

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Out of the 184 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of De Queen, UA Cossatot is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UA Cossatot are $4,410 a year.

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Out of the 184 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, NorthWest Arkansas Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. NWACC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Bentonville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NWACC are $4,456 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at NWACC take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $14,399.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at NorthWest Arkansas Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arkansas State University - Newport. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. ASUN is a small public school located in the rural area of Newport.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ASUN are $4,320 a year.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Arkansas State University - Newport Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Louisiana Delta Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. LDCC is a small public school located in the rural area of Monroe.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LDCC are $4,159 a year.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Louisiana Delta Community College Report

#6

Arkansas Northeastern College

Blytheville, AR

With a ranking of #6, Arkansas Northeastern College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the rural area of Blytheville, Arkansas Northeastern College is a public school with a small student population.

Arkansas Northeastern College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,138 in tuition and fees each year.

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#7

Central Arizona College

Coolidge, AZ

With a ranking of #7, Central Arizona College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Pinal County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Coolidge.

Pinal County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,160 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, liberal arts graduates from Pinal County Community College carry an average student debtload of $15,267.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Pinal County Community College also is in the top 20% of our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.

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#8

Grayson College

Denison, TX

Grayson College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Grayson College is a small public school located in the rural area of Denison.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Grayson College are $5,482 a year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Grayson College

#9

Baton Rouge Community College

Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. BRCC is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Baton Rouge.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BRCC are $4,221 per year.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Baton Rouge Community College Report

With a ranking of #10, College of Western Idaho did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the rural area of Nampa, CWI is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CWI are $7,344 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at CWI take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $13,002.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, CWI also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Western Idaho Report

South Louisiana Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate liberal arts general studies programs. South Louisiana Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Lafayette.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Louisiana Community College are $4,205 a year.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at South Louisiana Community College Report

Arkansas State University Mid-South landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the large suburb of West Memphis, ASU Mid-South is a public school with a small student population.

ASU Mid-South undergraduate students pay an average of $4,234 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, liberal arts graduates from ASU Mid-South carry an average student debtload of $7,450.

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Arkansas State University - Beebe ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the town of Beebe, ASU-Beebe is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASU-Beebe are $4,656 per year.

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University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the town of Morrilton, UACCM is a public college with a small student population.

UACCM undergraduate students pay an average of $4,128 in tuition and fees each year.

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#15

East Arkansas Community College

Forrest City, AR

East Arkansas Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the town of Forrest City, East Arkansas Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at East Arkansas Community College are $3,720 per year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, liberal arts graduates from East Arkansas Community College carry an average student debtload of $8,140.

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New Mexico State University - Grants came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Grants, NMSU Grants is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NMSU Grants are $4,104 per year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico State University - Grants

#17

Dakota College at Bottineau

Bottineau, ND

With a ranking of #17, Dakota College at Bottineau did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the remote area of Bottineau, MSU-Bottineau is a public college with a small student population.

MSU-Bottineau undergraduate students pay an average of $7,351 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Dakota College at Bottineau

#18

Los Angeles Valley College

Valley Glen, CA

Los Angeles Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. LAVC is a large public school located in the large city of Valley Glen.

LAVC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,012 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from LAVC take out $11,749 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

LAVC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list.

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

New Mexico State University - Carlsbad came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, NMSU Carlsbad is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NMSU Carlsbad are $4,008 a year.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad Report

#20

Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, MI

Washtenaw Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Washtenaw Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,856 in tuition and fees each year.

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

#21

Merced College

Merced, CA

Merced College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Merced Community College District is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Merced.

Merced Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $7,444 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, liberal arts majors at Merced Community College District accumulate an average of around $10,074 in student debt.

In addition to its great value ranking, Merced Community College District is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Merced College

South Arkansas Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of El Dorado, SouthArk is a public school with a small student population.

SouthArk undergraduate students pay an average of $4,812 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at South Arkansas Community College Report

#23

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cuesta College are $8,702 a year.

In addition to its great value ranking, Cuesta College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cuesta College

College of Southern Maryland came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. CSM is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of La Plata.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CSM are $9,030 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at CSM take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $13,797.

CSM excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Southern Maryland

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the large city of Kansas City, MCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,210 in tuition and fees each year. On average, liberal arts graduates from MCC take out $12,382 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, MCC also did well on our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Report

Rest of the Top Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools

#26

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA
#27

Paris Junior College

Paris, TX

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great value schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools award.

Rank College Location
28 East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CA
29 Black Hawk College Moline, IL
30 Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista, AZ
30 University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR
30 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN
33 New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Las Cruces, NM
34 Vernon College Vernon, TX
35 Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington, CA
36 Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CA

Liberal Arts General Studies by Region

View the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Undergraduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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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