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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k)

46 Ranked Colleges
2,147 Degrees Awarded
$7,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

General Education is the 35th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 2,147 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 46 colleges that offer a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Middlesex County College

Edison, New Jersey
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Middlesex County College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Edison, New Jersey, and it awarded 90 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Middlesex County College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,085 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Middlesex County College.

Read more about General Education at Middlesex County College

#2

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Highland Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k. Highland, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

Highland Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Highland Community College is $7,478 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Highland Community College General Education Report

#3

San Juan College

Farmington, New Mexico
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Juan College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. SJC is a medium-sized public school situated in Farmington, New Mexico. It awarded 14 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

SJC also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Juan College is $5,641 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SJC General Education Report

#4

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Fe Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Santa Fe Community College is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

SFCC also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFCC is $7,310 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Santa Fe Community College

#5

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
#25 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pima Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 16 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Pima County Community College District also made our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Pima Community College is $3,417 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Pima County Community College District

#6

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

El Paso Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. El Paso Community College is located in El Paso, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,609 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend El Paso Community College.

Read full report on General Education at El Paso Community College

#7

Connors State College

Warner, Oklahoma

Connors State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Connors State College is a small school located in Warner, Oklahoma that handed out 144 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

CSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $8,442 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend CSC.

Read full report on General Education at CSC

#8

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Martinsburg, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is $6,744 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Blue Ridge Community and Technical College General Education Report

#9

Lehigh Carbon Community College

Schnecksville, Pennsylvania

Lehigh Carbon Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Lehigh Carbon Community College is $5,800 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full LCCC General Education Report

#10

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tulsa Community College is a public institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tulsa Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tulsa Community College is $5,092 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Tulsa Community College General Education Report

Community College of Baltimore County landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

CCBC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Community College of Baltimore County is $7,539 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full CCBC General Education Report

#12

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 204 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Ivy Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $6,170 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Ivy Tech Community College

#13

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Century College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Century College is a medium-sized school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 19 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Century College also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $9,441 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Century College

#14

Brookdale Community College

Lincroft, New Jersey

Brookdale Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Brookdale Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Lincroft, New Jersey. It awarded 122 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Brookdale Community College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brookdale Community College is $7,560 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Brookdale Community College General Education Report

#15

University of the District of Columbia

Washington, District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 45 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

University of the District of Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $16,429 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of the District of Columbia.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on General Education at University of the District of Columbia

#16

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 13 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,658 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Dona Ana.

Full New Mexico State University - Dona Ana General Education Report

#17

Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, Maine
#9 in overall quality

Southern Maine Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in South Portland, Maine, and it awarded 22 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMCC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Maine Community College is $9,024 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Southern Maine Community College

#8 in overall quality

The University of Montana - Western did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Dillon, Montana, and it awarded 26 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Montana Western has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Montana - Western is $11,133 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at The University of Montana - Western

York County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. York County Community College is a public institution located in Wells, Maine. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for York County Community College is $6,809 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at York County Community College

#20

Bunker Hill Community College

Boston, Massachusetts

Bunker Hill Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bunker Hill Community College is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 5 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,116 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bunker Hill Community College.

Read more about General Education at Bunker Hill Community College

#21

Heritage University

Toppenish, Washington

Heritage University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Heritage University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Toppenish, Washington. It awarded 1 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Heritage University is $10,065 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Education at Heritage University

#18 in overall quality

Central Maine Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Auburn, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Central Maine Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Maine Community College is $5,679 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Central Maine Community College

#23

Weber State University

Ogden, Utah
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Weber State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Ogden, Utah, and it awarded 10 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also made our “Best General Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for WSU is $10,980 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full WSU General Education Report

New Mexico State University - Grants ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. New Mexico State University - Grants is a small school located in Grants, New Mexico that handed out 3 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Grants is $3,505 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at New Mexico State University - Grants

#25

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska

Northeast Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeast is a medium-sized school located in Norfolk, Nebraska that handed out 4 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Community College is $6,473 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Northeast Community College

Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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