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2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

259 Ranked Colleges
16,359 Degrees Awarded
$4,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 310,601 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 16,359 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 259 colleges that offer a degree in education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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 Education (Income $30-$48k)

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in McAllen, Texas, this large public school handed out 396 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

South Texas College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,390 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at South Texas College

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Regional Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Thomasville, Georgia, this small public school awarded 40 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $-574 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwest Georgia Technical College. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Full Southern Regional Technical College Education Report

#3

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 #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Edison, New Jersey, this fairly large public school awarded 92 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Middlesex County College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Middlesex County College is $6,085 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Middlesex County College Education Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 259 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Borough of Manhattan Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Borough of Manhattan Community College is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 167 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

BMCC also took the #5 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BMCC is $5,871 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Borough of Manhattan Community College Education Report

#5

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#24 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Central New Mexico Community College is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 117 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

CNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Central New Mexico Community College is $3,626 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Central New Mexico Community College Education Report

#13 in overall quality

Austin Community College District landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Austin Community College District is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 100 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $4,362 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Austin Community College District

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Chemeketa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chemeketa Community College is located in Salem, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Chemeketa Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Chemeketa Community College is $5,417 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Chemeketa Community College

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Tarrant County College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tarrant County College District is located in Fort Worth, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 144 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Tarrant County College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,742 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Tarrant County College District.

Read more about Education at Tarrant County College

#9

Bronx Community College

Bronx, New York
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Bronx Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Bronx, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

BCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,096 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bronx Community College.

Full BCC Education Report

#10

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, Massachusetts
Top 15% in overall quality

Middlesex Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Middlesex Community College is a public institution located in Bedford, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Middlesex Community College is also in the top of our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Middlesex Community College is $4,140 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Middlesex Community College

Top 25% in overall quality

Eastern Gateway Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Gateway Community College is a public institution located in Steubenville, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 171 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Gateway Community College is $3,267 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Eastern Gateway Community College

#12

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas
Top 10% in overall quality

Highland Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Highland Community College is a small public school situated in Highland, Kansas. It awarded 48 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Highland Community College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. 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 Education Report

#13

Hostos Community College

Bronx, New York
#10 in overall quality

Hostos Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hostos is a medium-sized school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 101 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Hostos not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,961 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Hostos Community College.

Full Hostos Community College Education Report

#14

Chattahoochee Technical College

Marietta, Georgia

Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chattahoochee Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Marietta, Georgia. It awarded 27 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Chattahoochee Technical College is $1,238 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Chattahoochee Technical College Education Report

#15

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, Georgia

Central Georgia Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Central Georgia Technical College is located in Warner Robins, Georgia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $2,079 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Georgia Technical College.

Read more about Education at CGTC

#16

Essex County College

Newark, New Jersey
#11 in overall quality

Essex County College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Essex County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Newark, New Jersey. It awarded 63 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Essex not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Essex County College is $11,636 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Essex County College

Top 20% in overall quality

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 43 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Cincinnati State is also in the top of our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $4,292 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Cincinnati State

#8 in overall quality

Delaware Technical Community College - Terry did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Delaware Tech is a fairly large public school situated in Dover, Delaware. It awarded 156 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Delaware Tech also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $8,684 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Delaware Technical Community College - Terry.

Read more about Education at Delaware Tech

#19

Itawamba Community College

Fulton, Mississippi

Itawamba Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. ICC is a small public school situated in Fulton, Mississippi. It awarded 105 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ICC is $4,847 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Itawamba Community College

#20

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Wesson, Mississippi
Top 25% in overall quality

Copiah-Lincoln Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a small public school situated in Wesson, Mississippi. It awarded 85 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College is $4,028 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Copiah-Lincoln Community College Education Report

#20

Atlanta Technical College

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Technical College came in at #20 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 Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 24 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Atlanta Area Tech is $858 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Atlanta Technical College

#22

Leeward Community College

Pearl City, Hawaii
#18 in overall quality

Leeward Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Leeward CC is a medium-sized public school situated in Pearl City, Hawaii. It awarded 59 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Leeward CC has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Leeward CC is $7,183 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Leeward Community College

#23

Camden County College

Blackwood, New Jersey
Top 20% in overall quality

Camden County College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Blackwood, New Jersey, this medium-sized public school awarded 65 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Camden County College is in the top on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,791 for associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Camden County College.

Read more about Education at Camden County College

#24

Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake City, Utah
Top 15% in overall quality

Salt Lake Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Salt Lake Community College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Salt Lake Community College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $6,329 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Salt Lake Community College.

Read more about Education at Salt Lake Community College

#25

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Henry Ford College is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Henry Ford College is $3,039 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Henry Ford College Education Report

Rest of the Best 39 in Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $30-$48k

Not only did these schools make the top 39 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#28

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida
#30

Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, New York
#31

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#32

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina
#33

Stanly Community College

Albemarle, North Carolina
#34

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#35

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida
#36

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#37

Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee, Florida
#38

South Georgia Technical College

Americus, Georgia
#39

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina

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 Horadrim.

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