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2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

15 Ranked Colleges
5,450 Degrees Awarded
$8,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 365,980 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.

Across Iowa, there were 5,869 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,450 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,684 and $18,179 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts 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 liberal arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 15 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,180 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $8,543 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Liberal Arts Report

#2

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Southeastern Community College is located in West Burlington, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 216 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Southeastern Community College also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Community College is $6,527 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Southeastern Community College

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Iowa Area Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Mason City, Iowa, this small public school awarded 405 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Iowa Area Community College is $7,397 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at North Iowa Area Community College

#4

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Marshalltown Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 146 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marshalltown Community College is $5,012 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Marshalltown Community College

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeast Iowa Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. NICC is located in Calmar, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 128 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

NICC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend NICC is $9,153 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NICC Liberal Arts Report

#6

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

Kirkwood Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 730 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $8,831 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Kirkwood Community College

#5 in overall quality

Iowa Central Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa Central Community College is a small school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 435 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $8,734 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Iowa Central Community College Liberal Arts Report

#8 in overall quality

Indian Hills Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 349 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, IHCC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IHCC is $5,646 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at IHCC

#14 in overall quality

Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 158 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also took the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $5,287 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#10

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Iowa Western Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Council Bluffs, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 439 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Western Community College is $10,002 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Iowa Western Community College

#4 in overall quality

Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Sheldon, Iowa. It awarded 67 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest Iowa Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Iowa Community College is $8,623 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Northwest Iowa Community College

#9 in overall quality

Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 504 students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $9,578 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.

Full Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Liberal Arts Report

#13

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Hawkeye Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized school located in Waterloo, Iowa that handed out 297 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Hawkeye Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $9,083 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Hawkeye Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Hawkeye Community College

#14

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Ellsworth Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa Falls, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

Ellsworth also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Ellsworth Community College is $9,192 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Ellsworth Community College

#15 in overall quality

Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Southwestern Community College is a small school located in Creston, Iowa that handed out 120 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SWCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for SWCC is $7,649 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Southwestern Community College

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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