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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

39 Ranked Colleges
4,271 Degrees Awarded
$6,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 310,601 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. 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.

Across the Southwest region, there were 36,145 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,313 and $29,229 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 4,271 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 39 colleges that offered a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#5 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in McAllen, Texas, and it awarded 396 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

South Texas College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,390 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at South Texas College

#2

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Central New Mexico Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Central New Mexico Community College is a large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 117 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CNM, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central New Mexico Community College is $3,626 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at CNM

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 100 students in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $4,362 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Austin Community College District.

Read full report on Education at Austin Community College District

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tarrant County College District. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 144 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tarrant County College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,742 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Tarrant County College.

Full Tarrant County College Education Report

#5

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend El Paso Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. El Paso Community College is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 199 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, El Paso Community College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Paso Community College is $4,609 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at El Paso Community College

#6

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#3 in overall quality

Lone Star College System landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and it awarded 269 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Harris Montgomery is $7,538 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Lone Star College System Education Report

#7

Northern Oklahoma College

Tonkawa, Oklahoma
#8 in overall quality

Northern Oklahoma College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Oklahoma College is a small public school situated in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. It awarded 71 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Northern Oklahoma College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,798 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northern Oklahoma College.

Read more about Education at Northern Oklahoma College

#8

San Juan College

Farmington, New Mexico
#9 in overall quality

San Juan College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SJC is a public institution located in Farmington, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SJC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,641 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend San Juan College.

Full San Juan College Education Report

#10

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
#10 in overall quality

Santa Fe Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 23 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

SFCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SFCC is $7,310 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Santa Fe Community College Education Report

#11

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona

Pima Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 42 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,417 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

Full Pima County Community College District Education Report

#17 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is a public institution located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, OSU Institute of Technology has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $4,299 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend OSU Institute of Technology.

Read more about Education at OSU Institute of Technology

#13

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, San Antonio College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Antonio College is a fairly large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 86 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

San Antonio College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Antonio College is $6,189 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at San Antonio College

#14

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Amarillo College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized school located in Amarillo, Texas that handed out 44 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Amarillo College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Amarillo College is $5,506 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Amarillo College

#15

Connors State College

Warner, Oklahoma
#6 in overall quality

Connors State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Connors State College is a small public school situated in Warner, Oklahoma. It awarded 144 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

CSC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Connors State College is $8,442 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at CSC

#18 in overall quality

Cochise County Community College District came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sierra Vista, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

Cochise College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $6,543 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cochise College.

Read full report on Education at Cochise County Community College District

#17

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, Oklahoma
#24 in overall quality

Tulsa Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Tulsa Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 31 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tulsa Community College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,092 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Tulsa Community College.

Full Tulsa Community College Education Report

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, New Mexico State University - Alamogordo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NMSU Alamogordo is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

NMSU Alamogordo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Alamogordo is $6,643 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Education at NMSU Alamogordo

McLennan Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 22 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend McLennan Community College is $6,191 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at MCC

#14 in overall quality

San Jacinto Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Pasadena, Texas, this large public school handed out 258 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

San Jacinto College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jacinto College is $8,502 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at San Jacinto College

#21

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 36 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NMSU Dona Ana is $5,658 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NMSU Dona Ana Education Report

#22

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Glendale Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Glendale, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Glendale Community College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,465 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Glendale Community College.

Read more about Education at Glendale Community College

#23

Navarro College

Corsicana, Texas
#4 in overall quality

Navarro College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Navarro College is located in Corsicana, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Navarro College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Navarro College is $14,293 for southwest region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Navarro College

New Mexico State University - Grants did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. This small school is located in Grants, New Mexico, and it awarded 5 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Education at New Mexico State University - Grants

#25

Arizona Western College

Yuma, Arizona
#19 in overall quality

Arizona Western College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Arizona Western College is a public institution located in Yuma, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

AWC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for AWC is $10,238 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Arizona Western College Education Report

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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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