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2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

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

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 Plains States Region

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

Top 19 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education in the Plains States Region

#1

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Highland Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Highland Community College is a small school located in Highland, Kansas that handed out 48 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Highland Community College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Highland Community College is $7,349 for plains states region associate degree education students.

Read more about Education at Highland Community College

#2

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 that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeast Community College landed the #2 spot on the 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.

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 per year to attend Northeast.

Read full report on Education at Northeast

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Cloud Technical and Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 associates’s 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. The estimated yearly cost for St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for plains states region associate degree education students.

Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Education Report

#4

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minot State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students list, MSU has also earned the #3 rank 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.

Read more about Education at MSU

#5

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 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. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students.

Read full report on Education at Century College

#6

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

Northland Community and Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Northland Community and Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,860 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students per year to attend Northland Community and Technical College.

Read more about Education at Northland Community and Technical College

#7

Three Rivers College

Poplar Bluff, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Three Rivers College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. 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 estimated yearly cost for Three Rivers College is $8,362 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students.

Read more about Education at Three Rivers College

#8

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Ozarks Technical Community College is a fairly large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 98 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students list, OTC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,908 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students per year to attend Ozarks Technical Community College.

Full OTC Education Report

#9

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 ranking, coming in at #9. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $12,620 for plains states region associate degree education students.

Read full report on Education at Normandale Community College

#10

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Minnesota came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school situated in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 42 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students 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 $18,586 for plains states region associate degree education students per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.

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

Full Rasmussen University - Minnesota Education Report

#6 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - North Dakota came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. 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 made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $18,939 for plains states region associate degree education students per year to attend Rasmussen University - North Dakota.

Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Education Report

#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 list. This medium-sized school is located in El Dorado, Kansas, and it awarded 57 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Butler CC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Butler CC is $13,895 for plains states region associate degree education students.

Read full report on Education at Butler Community College

#13

Moberly Area Community College

Moberly, Missouri
#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 ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Moberly, Missouri, and it awarded 28 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

MACC also took the #16 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Moberly Area Community College is $7,143 for plains states region associate degree education students.

Read full report on Education at Moberly Area Community College

#14

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#11 in overall quality

College of Saint Mary landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Mary is a small school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 1 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Saint Mary, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Mary is $14,325 for plains states region associate degree education students.

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. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at College of Saint Mary

#15

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Saint Paul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,245 for plains states region associate degree education students per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

Read full report on Education at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#16

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Dordt University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Dordt is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dordt, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dordt is $25,102 for plains states region associate degree education students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Dordt

#17

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Southwest Baptist University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Southwest Baptist University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,682 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students per year to attend Southwest Baptist University.

Full Southwest Baptist University Education Report

#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 ranking. Located in Topeka, Kansas, this small private for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - Kansas, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,934 for plains states region associate degree education students 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 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree education students list, Drury University - CCPS has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - CCPS is $13,233 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students.

Full Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies 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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