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2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

19 Ranked Colleges
1,029 Degrees Awarded
$13,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

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 Getting Aid” 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.

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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree education students with aid.

Top 19 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Highland Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Highland Community College is $7,349 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Highland Community College

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

St Cloud Technical and Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid.

Read more about Education at St Cloud Technical and Community College

#3

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeast Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Nebraska, and it awarded 59 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeast also took the #4 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,749 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid per year to attend Northeast.

Read full report on Education at Northeast Community College

#4

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ozarks Technical Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 98 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

OTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,908 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid per year to attend Ozarks Technical Community College.

Full Ozarks Technical Community College Education Report

#5

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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Three Rivers College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, this small public school awarded 66 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students 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 estimated yearly cost for Three Rivers College is $8,362 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Three Rivers College

#16 in overall quality

Moberly Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. 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.

MACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Moberly Area Community College is $7,143 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid.

Read more about Education at MACC

#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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Century College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $10,808 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid per year to attend Century College.

Read more about Education at Century College

#8

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#3 in overall quality

Minot State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

MSU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSU is $11,898 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid.

Full MSU Education Report

#9

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Northland Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northland Community and Technical College is located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Northland Community and Technical College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Northland Community and Technical College is $10,860 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Northland Community and Technical College

#10

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

Normandale Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bloomington, Minnesota that handed out 19 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Normandale Community College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,620 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Normandale Community College.

Read full report on Education at Normandale Community College

#11

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, this small private for-profit school handed out 42 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - Minnesota also took the #2 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $18,586 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Education at Rasmussen University - Minnesota

#12

Butler Community College

El Dorado, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

Butler Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Butler CC is located in El Dorado, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Butler CC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,895 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid per year to attend Butler Community College.

Read more about Education at Butler CC

#13

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, College of Saint Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 1 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Mary also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $14,325 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Saint Mary.

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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Education at College of Saint Mary

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a private for-profit institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - North Dakota also took the #6 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $18,939 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Rasmussen University - North Dakota

#15

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students with aid list, Concordia University, Saint Paul has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul is $16,245 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#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 Getting Aid ranking. Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bolivar, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s 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. The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Baptist University is $17,682 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Southwest Baptist University

#17

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Dordt University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Dordt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Dordt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $25,102 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid per year to attend Dordt.

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%.

Read more about Education at Dordt University

#18 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Kansas landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Rasmussen University - Kansas is a small private for-profit school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 3 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - Kansas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,934 for plains states region associate degree education students with aid per year to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas.

Full Rasmussen University - Kansas Education Report

#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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 4 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Drury University - CCPS also took the #19 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,233 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Drury University - CCPS.

Read full report on Education at Drury University - CCPS

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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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