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2023 Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools

851 Colleges
$24,682 Avg Salary
$12,147 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree School for You

With 556,813 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts / sciences and humanities is the #3 most popular major in the United States.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 851 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the United States

The following schools top our list of the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Colleges.

Top 25 Top Schools for an Associate in Liberal Arts & Humanities

Our 2023 rankings named American Public University System the best school in the United States for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students working on their associate degree. Located in the fringe town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at American Public University System

#2

Brandman University

Irvine, CA

The excellent associate degree programs at Brandman University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the United States. Brandman is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Brandman University

#3

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, AL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Columbia Southern University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit college with a large student population.

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#4

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Excelsior College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools list. Excelsior College is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Albany.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Excelsior College Report

#5

National University

La Jolla, CA

The excellent associate degree programs at National University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the United States. Located in the city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex ranked #6 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools list. UWM Flexible Option is a small public school located in the city of Milwaukee.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report

Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Northwest Iowa Community College Report

#8

Columbia College

Columbia, MO

Columbia College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Columbia.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Columbia College

With a ranking of #9, University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, UMGC is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Maryland Global Campus Report

#10

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Coon Rapids, MN

With a ranking of #10, Anoka-Ramsey Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Mountwest Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize suburb of Huntington, MCTC is a public college with a small student population.

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St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students to get a associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school located in the small city of Saint Cloud.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at St Cloud Technical and Community College

Northland Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students to get a associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Thief River Falls.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Northland Community and Technical College

#14

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

With a ranking of #14, Johnson County Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students working on their associate degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public school with a large student population.

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#15

Central Texas College

Killeen, TX

Central Texas College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Central Texas College is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize suburb of Killeen.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Central Texas College

#16

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN

Century College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools ranking. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Century College Report

Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #18 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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Florida SouthWestern State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, FSW is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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#20

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, MA

Massachusetts Bay Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the large suburb of Wellesley Hills, MassBay Community College is a public school with a small student population.

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#21

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, MN

With a ranking of #21, Normandale Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students working on their associate degree. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Bloomington.

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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students to get a associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list. UWM is a very large public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Macomb Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#24

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students to get a associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a very large student population.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at El Centro College

#25

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, MN

North Hennepin Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park.

Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at North Hennepin Community College Report

Rest of the Top 50 Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools

#28

South Texas College

McAllen, TX
#30

Dakota College at Bottineau

Bottineau, ND
#36

Northern Maine Community College

Presque Isle, ME
#37

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, IL
#41

Winona State University

Winona, MN
#42

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, ND
#43

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, FL
#44

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX
#45

Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX
#46

Union University

Jackson, TN
#47

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA
#48

Inver Hills Community College

Inver Grove Heights, MN

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 851 different United States liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK
52 Troy University Troy, AL
53 Vincennes University Vincennes, IN
54 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH
55 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
56 New York University New York, NY
57 Northern Wyoming Community College District Sheridan, WY
58 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN
59 Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ
60 Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX
61 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
62 South Piedmont Community College Polkton, NC
63 Weber State University Ogden, UT
64 Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MN
65 Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL
66 Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
67 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
68 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
69 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
70 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI
71 Villanova University Villanova, PA
72 Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ
73 Ridgewater College Willmar, MN
74 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL
75 Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC
76 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
77 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
78 Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY
79 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
80 Moberly Area Community College Moberly, MO
81 Delta College University Center, MI
82 Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DE
83 Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OK
84 Northland Pioneer College Holbrook, AZ
85 NHTI-Concord’s Community College Concord, NH
86 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
87 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
88 Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA
89 Utah Valley University Orem, UT
90 Arapahoe Community College Littleton, CO
91 Community College of Vermont Montpelier, VT
92 Midland College Midland, TX
93 University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA
94 Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CA
95 Chesapeake College Wye Mills, MD
96 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
97 State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO
98 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
99 Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD
100 West Valley College Saratoga, CA
101 South Seattle College Seattle, WA
102 Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA
103 Providence College Providence, RI
104 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
105 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI
106 Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT
107 Cascadia College Bothell, WA
108 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
109 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH
110 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS
111 Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN
112 Alamance Community College Graham, NC
113 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
114 Stark State College North Canton, OH
115 Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY
116 Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT
117 Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL
118 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH
119 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI
120 Hibbing Community College Hibbing, MN
121 University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
122 Leech Lake Tribal College Cass Lake, MN
123 Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence, SC
124 Elgin Community College Elgin, IL
125 Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ
126 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
126 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Liberal Arts & Humanities students that almost earned our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
128 Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL
129 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
129 Georgia State University-Perimeter College Atlanta, GA
131 Valencia College Orlando, FL
132 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI
133 Shorter University Rome, GA
134 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
135 Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI
136 Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE
137 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN
138 Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN
139 Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI
140 Shoreline Community College Shoreline, WA
141 Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN
142 Baker College Owosso, MI
143 NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR
144 San Jose City College San Jose, CA
145 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
146 Oregon Coast Community College Newport, OR
147 Schoolcraft College Livonia, MI
148 Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN
149 Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL
150 Highline College Des Moines, WA
151 Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills, MI
152 Ball State University Muncie, IN
153 University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC
154 Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
155 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
156 McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL
157 Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN
158 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
159 Prince George’s Community College Largo, MD
160 Great Bay Community College Portsmouth, NH
161 Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA
162 Kent State University at Stark Canton, OH
163 Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SC
164 The College of the Florida Keys Key West, FL
165 Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZ
166 Chipola College Marianna, FL
167 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
168 Amarillo College Amarillo, TX
169 Portland Community College Portland, OR
170 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson, NC

Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities by Region

View the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

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

Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts General Studies 556,813

Related Major Annual Graduates
Visual & Performing Arts 149,215
English Language & Literature 54,635
Foreign Languages & Linguistics 33,333
Theology & Religious Vocations 27,459
Philosophy & Religious Studies 19,993

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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