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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

19 Ranked Colleges
1,029 Degrees Awarded
$20,440 Avg Salary
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 Plains States region, there were 32,592 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,310 and $28,608 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,029 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality education programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 19 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Highland Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Highland Community College is a public institution located in Highland, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Highland Community College also took the #1 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Highland Community College is $8,285 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Education at Highland Community College

#2

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Norfolk, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeast, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Community College is $9,455 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Education at Northeast Community College

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 15 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

St Cloud Technical and Community College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $9,044 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College.

Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Education Report

#4

Three Rivers College

Poplar Bluff, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Three Rivers College landed the #4 spot on the list. Three Rivers College is a small school located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri that handed out 66 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Three Rivers College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Three Rivers College is $9,940 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Education at Three Rivers College

#5

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Minot State University is located in Minot, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

MSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $11,401 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Education at Minot State University

#16 in overall quality

Moberly Area Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Moberly, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MACC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MACC is $8,184 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full MACC Education Report

#7

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Century College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. White Bear Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

Century College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,956 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Century College.

Read full report on Education at Century College

#8

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, College of Saint Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Saint Mary is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Saint Mary has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Mary is $12,206 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Education at Saint Mary

#9

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. OTC is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 98 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

OTC also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend OTC is $10,105 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Education at OTC

#10

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

Northland Community and Technical College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Northland Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northland Community and Technical College is $10,633 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Northland Community and Technical College Education Report

#11

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

Normandale Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Normandale Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Normandale Community College is $13,253 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Education at Normandale Community College

#12

Butler Community College

El Dorado, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

Butler Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in El Dorado, Kansas, this medium-sized public school awarded 57 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Butler CC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Butler Community College is $14,817 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Education at Butler CC

#13

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Saint Paul also took the #13 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,023 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

Read full report on Education at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#14

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, this small private for-profit school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Rasmussen University - Minnesota has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,054 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read more about Education at Rasmussen University - Minnesota

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Rasmussen University - North Dakota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $20,088 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Education at Rasmussen University - North Dakota

#16

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Southwest Baptist University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southwest Baptist University is a small school located in Bolivar, Missouri that handed out 3 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwest Baptist University also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $18,119 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southwest Baptist University.

Full Southwest Baptist University Education Report

#17

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Dordt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Dordt has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dordt University is $22,821 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt Education Report

#18 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. Rasmussen University - Kansas is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Rasmussen University - Kansas also took the #18 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

Read full report on Education at Rasmussen University - Kansas

#19 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. Drury University - CCPS is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 4 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University - CCPS, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,166 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies.

Full Drury University - CCPS 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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