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Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

2023 Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

552 Colleges
$28,337 Avg Salary
$17,430 Avg Student Debt

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.

The Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 552 schools in the United States to see which online programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for liberal arts majors pursuing an online .

#1

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Our 2023 rankings named Lone Star College System the most popular online school in the United States for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at North Harris Montgomery accumulate an average of around $10,313 in student debt.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Utah Valley University is a great place for liberal arts general studies students pursuing an online degree. UVU is a very large public school located in the city of Orem.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at UVU accumulate an average of around $17,058 in student debt.

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#3

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

The excellent online programs at Santa Monica College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the United States. SMC is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica.

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The excellent online programs at Hillsborough Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools in the United States. HCC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Tampa.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at HCC take out is $11,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $114, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Out of the 552 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Collin County Community College District landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Collin County Community College District take out $10,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#6

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, FL

St Petersburg College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Clearwater, SPC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from SPC carry an average student debtload of $13,270.

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University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list. UMGC is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Adelphi.

On average, liberal arts graduates from UMGC take out $15,681 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the city of Kansas City, MCC is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from MCC carry an average student debtload of $8,792.

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Southern New Hampshire University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. SNHU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester.

On average, liberal arts graduates from SNHU take out $23,425 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the city of Cleveland.

Liberal Arts majors at Cuyahoga Community College District take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Seminole State College of Florida did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the small city of Sanford, Seminole State is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Seminole State carry an average student debtload of $10,250.

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#12

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Excelsior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Excelsior College take out is $10,134.

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With a ranking of #13, Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. FSW is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers.

On average, liberal arts graduates from FSW take out $8,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#14

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, FL

Indian River State College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from Indian River State College carry an average student debtload of $7,250.

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Eastern Florida State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #15 on the list. EFSC is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Cocoa.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at EFSC take out is $9,577.

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American Public University System landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from American Military University carry an average student debtload of $5,688.

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#17

Daytona State College

Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Liberal Arts majors at Daytona State College take out an average of $9,379 in student loans while working on their egree.

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With a ranking of #18, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the large suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public school with a very large student population.

Liberal Arts majors at Wake Technical Community College take out an average of $11,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at BYU - I accumulate an average of around $9,111 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #20, Northern Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the large suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at Northern Virginia Community College accumulate an average of around $11,000 in student debt.

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Tri-County Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools ranking. TCTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Pendleton.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at TCTC take out is $10,000.

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#22

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the large suburb of Whittier, RHCCD is a public school with a large student population.

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Weber State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts general studies programs. WSU is a very large public school located in the small city of Ogden.

After completing their degree, liberal arts graduates from WSU carry an average student debtload of $17,867.

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#24

South Texas College

McAllen, TX

South Texas College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts general studies students. It came in at #24 on the list. South Texas College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of McAllen.

While working on their degree, liberal arts majors at South Texas College accumulate an average of around $5,500 in student debt.

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#25

Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL

With a ranking of #25, Polk State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts general studies students. Located in the small city of Winter Haven, Polk State is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Polk State take out $8,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Polk State College Report

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#27

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA
#28

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS
#29

Lane Community College

Eugene, OR
#30

Central Texas College

Killeen, TX
#30

Pasco-Hernando State College

New Port Richey, FL
#34

Hinds Community College

Raymond, MS
#42

Yavapai College

Prescott, AZ
#44

Merced College

Merced, CA
#48

Columbia College

Columbia, MO
#50

Los Angeles Harbor College

Wilmington, CA

Remaining Award Winners

This section represents the rest of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 552 different United States liberal arts general studies schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA
52 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
53 Southern Union State Community College Wadley, AL
54 Grayson College Denison, TX
55 North Central Texas College Gainesville, TX
56 Normandale Community College Bloomington, MN
57 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
58 Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OK
59 Eastern Gateway Community College Steubenville, OH
60 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
61 Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA
62 Dixie State University Saint George, UT
63 Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ
64 Georgia Military College Milledgeville, GA
65 Moberly Area Community College Moberly, MO
66 Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN
67 Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL
68 Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA
69 Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD
70 San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino, CA
71 Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZ
72 Heartland Community College Normal, IL
73 University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR
74 Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO
75 John Tyler Community College Chester, VA
76 Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS
77 Bronx Community College Bronx, NY
78 Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe, AR
79 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH
80 Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA
81 Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ
82 Black Hawk College Moline, IL

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools award.

Rank College Location
83 College of Southern Maryland La Plata, MD
84 Cleveland State Community College Cleveland, TN
85 Navarro College Corsicana, TX
86 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
87 Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VA
88 Lord Fairfax Community College Middletown, VA
89 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
90 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
91 Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KY
92 Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC
92 Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL
94 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
95 State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO
96 Century College White Bear Lake, MN
97 Clackamas Community College Oregon City, OR
98 New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Las Cruces, NM
99 Delta College University Center, MI
100 Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ
101 Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY
102 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI
102 Northeast Mississippi Community College Booneville, MS
104 St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MI
105 Schoolcraft College Livonia, MI
106 Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA
107 Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS
108 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
109 Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL
110 Harford Community College Bel Air, MD

View the Most Popular Online Liberal Arts General Studies Schools for a specific region near you.

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

More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings

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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