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Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

119 Colleges
$32,881 Avg Salary
$27,591 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's 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. 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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 119 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Liberal Arts General Studies program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Colleges.

#1

Columbia College

Columbia, MO

Our 2023 rankings named Columbia College the most popular school in the Plains States Region for liberal arts general studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 51% of the liberal arts majors at the school.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts graduates from Columbia College Missouri carry an average student debt load of $31,039.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Columbia College

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at University of Nebraska at Omaha helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular liberal arts general studies schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the city of Omaha, UNOMAHA is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 346 students majoring in liberal arts at UNOMAHA, 45% are male and 55% are female.

Liberal Arts majors at UNOMAHA take out an average of $27,775 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $132, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Out of the 119 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Fort Hays State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the remote town of Hays, FHSU is a public college with a large student population.

Of the 257 students majoring in liberal arts at FHSU, 36% are male and 64% are female.

The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at FHSU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $30,324.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Fort Hays State University

#4

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

Out of the 119 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the # 4 spot on the list. Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City.

About 59% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 41% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts graduates from Iowa carry an average student debt load of $26,775. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $279, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at University of Missouri - Kansas City helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular liberal arts general studies schools in the Plains States Region . UMKC is a large public school located in the large city of Kansas City.

Women make up 64% of the liberal arts majors at the school.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts graduates from UMKC carry an average student debt load of $32,000.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Missouri - Kansas City Report

With a ranking of #6, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Women make up 59% of the liberal arts majors at the school.

On average, liberal arts graduates from Southeast Missouri State University take out $29,102 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $140.

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#7

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

With a ranking of #7, University of Kansas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for liberal arts general studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. KU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lawrence.

About 47% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 53% are male.

On average, liberal arts graduates from KU take out $26,916 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $287, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Kansas Report

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for liberal arts general studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State is a public school with a very large student population.

About 57% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 43% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts majors at Missouri State accumulate an average of around $31,613 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $183.

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University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, UMSL is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 62% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 38% are male.

Liberal Arts majors at UMSL take out an average of $34,691 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Missouri - St Louis Report

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for liberal arts general studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 32% of the liberal arts majors at the school.

Liberal Arts majors at Mizzou take out an average of $24,124 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $278, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia

#11

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND

University of North Dakota ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Grand Forks, UND is a public college with a large student population.

About 44% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 56% are male.

Liberal Arts majors at UND take out an average of $24,522 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of North Dakota

Missouri Southern State University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the small city of Joplin, Missouri Southern is a public school with a small student population.

About 56% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 44% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts majors at Missouri Southern accumulate an average of around $30,367 in student debt.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Missouri Southern State University Report

#13

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS

Wichita State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree liberal arts general studies programs. WSU is a large public school located in the large city of Wichita.

About 66% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 34% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts majors at WSU accumulate an average of around $25,034 in student debt.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wichita State University

#14

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO

University of Central Missouri ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. UCM is a fairly large public school located in the town of Warrensburg.

About 67% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 33% are male.

On average, liberal arts graduates from UCM take out $26,303 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read More…

Iowa State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for liberal arts general studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State is a public college with a very large student population.

Women make up 45% of the liberal arts majors at the school.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts majors at Iowa State accumulate an average of around $30,756 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $210, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa State University Report

#16

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA

University of Northern Iowa came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Cedar Falls.

Of the 68 students majoring in liberal arts at UNI, 54% are male and 46% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, liberal arts graduates from UNI carry an average student debt load of $29,414. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $113.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Northern Iowa

#17

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS

Pittsburg State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Pitt State is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg.

About 39% of the students majoring in liberal arts at the school are women while 61% are male.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Pittsburg State University

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Liberal Arts General Studies students in the Plains States Region that almost earned our Most Popular Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
18 University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE
19 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD
20 Emporia State University Emporia, KS
21 Friends University Wichita, KS
22 Mayville State University Mayville, ND
22 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD

Best Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best liberal arts general studies schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 8,280
Minnesota 6,264
Kansas 6,339
Iowa 5,966
Nebraska 1,612
North Dakota 953
South Dakota 222

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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