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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in Iowa

15 Ranked Colleges
5,450 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 365,980 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts is the 2nd most popular major in the United States.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

The liberal 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 Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa.

Top 15 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in Iowa

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 1,180 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $10,076 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Des Moines Area Community College

#2

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this fairly large public school awarded 730 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College also took the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,939 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Kirkwood Community College

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Indian Hills Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. IHCC is located in Ottumwa, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 349 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

IHCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $7,217 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students per year to attend Indian Hills Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Indian Hills Community College

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Iowa Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small school located in Sheldon, Iowa that handed out 67 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest Iowa Community College, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Iowa Community College is $12,125 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Liberal Arts Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa Central Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this small public school awarded 435 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,102 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Iowa Central Community College

#6 in overall quality

North Iowa Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #6. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 405 students in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Iowa Area Community College is $8,409 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at North Iowa Area Community College

#7

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Iowa Western Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized school located in Council Bluffs, Iowa that handed out 439 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Western Community College is $11,477 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Iowa Western Community College

#9 in overall quality

Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. This medium-sized school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 504 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is $10,650 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Eastern Iowa Community College District

#9

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Marshalltown Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. Marshalltown Community College is a public institution located in Marshalltown, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 146 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marshalltown Community College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,456 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend Marshalltown Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Marshalltown Community College

#10

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Ellsworth Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. Ellsworth is a small school located in Iowa Falls, Iowa that handed out 89 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Ellsworth also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $11,198 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend Ellsworth.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Ellsworth

#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 ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 158 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Liberal Arts Report

#12

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Hawkeye Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 297 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Hawkeye Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $11,495 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students per year to attend Hawkeye Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Hawkeye Community College

#13

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Southeastern Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. Southeastern Community College is a small public school situated in West Burlington, Iowa. It awarded 216 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Community College is $7,223 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Southeastern Community College

#12 in overall quality

Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #14. NICC is a public institution located in Calmar, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 128 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NICC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NICC is $10,505 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students.

Full NICC Liberal Arts Report

#15 in overall quality

Southwestern Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. SWCC is a public institution located in Creston, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 120 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SWCC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SWCC is $9,013 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at SWCC

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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