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

23 Ranked Colleges
2,044 Degrees Awarded
$11,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 133,583 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,869 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 2,044 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general studies 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 general studies 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 General Studies Schools

The general studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 General Studies 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 general studies students with aid.

Top 23 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 119 students in 2019-2020.

DMACC also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $10,076 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Full DMACC General Studies Report

#2

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, Missouri
#9 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 #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

OTC also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Ozarks Technical Community College is $7,908 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Full OTC General Studies Report

#3

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Marshalltown Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 6 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,456 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Marshalltown Community College.

Read more about General Studies at Marshalltown Community College

#4

Crowder College

Neosho, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Crowder College landed the #4 spot on the list. Crowder College is a public institution located in Neosho, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 294 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Crowder College also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Crowder College is $5,080 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Full Crowder College General Studies Report

#5

Barton County Community College

Great Bend, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Barton County Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Barton County Community College is located in Great Bend, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 66 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Barton Community College also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Barton Community College is $8,792 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Full Barton County Community College General Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. NICC is a small school located in Calmar, Iowa that handed out 11 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NICC also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Iowa Community College is $10,505 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at Northeast Iowa Community College

#6 in overall quality

Iowa Central Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this small public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $10,102 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

#8

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Iowa Western Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It awarded 51 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Western Community College is $11,477 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Full Iowa Western Community College General Studies Report

#9

Independence Community College

Independence, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Independence Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Independence Community College is a small public school situated in Independence, Kansas. It awarded 64 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid list, Independence Community College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Independence Community College is $5,885 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Full Independence Community College General Studies Report

#10

Labette Community College

Parsons, Kansas
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Labette Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Parsons, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

Labette Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $5,753 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Labette Community College.

Full Labette Community College General Studies Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 7 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#12

East Central College

Union, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

East Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Union, Missouri, and it awarded 271 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

East Central College also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Central College is $7,572 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at East Central College

#13

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#15 in overall quality

Northeast Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized school located in Norfolk, Nebraska that handed out 5 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeast not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast is $8,749 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Full Northeast General Studies Report

#14

Mineral Area College

Park Hills, Missouri
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Mineral Area College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Mineral Area College is a small school located in Park Hills, Missouri that handed out 7 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid list, MAC has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mineral Area College is $9,270 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Full MAC General Studies Report

#21 in overall quality

Missouri State University - West Plains landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri State University - West Plains is a small school located in West Plains, Missouri that handed out 143 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State West Plains also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State West Plains is $7,739 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at Missouri State University - West Plains

#16

North Central Missouri College

Trenton, Missouri
#20 in overall quality

North Central Missouri College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Central Missouri College is a small public school situated in Trenton, Missouri. It awarded 6 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NCMC, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,870 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid per year to attend North Central Missouri College.

Read full report on General Studies at North Central Missouri College

#17

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 58 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $19,252 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 General Studies at South Dakota State University

#18

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#11 in overall quality

College of Saint Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 1 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Mary also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,325 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Saint Mary.

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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at College of Saint Mary

#19

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#4 in overall quality

University of South Dakota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend USD is $18,555 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at University of South Dakota

#20

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota
#22 in overall quality

Mayville State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Mayville State University is a public institution located in Mayville, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mayville State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,378 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Mayville State University.

Read full report on General Studies at Mayville State University

#21

Hesston College

Hesston, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Hesston College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Hesston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hesston, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Hesston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $21,183 for plains states region associate degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Hesston College.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about General Studies at Hesston College

#22

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 572 diplomas to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $26,730 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at Columbia College

#23 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 19 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Drury University - CCPS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - CCPS is $13,233 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies 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.

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