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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
5,668 Degrees Awarded
$8,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 6,129 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,768 and $15,875 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,668 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,684 and $18,179 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts 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 liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The liberal arts 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 Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

#1

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeastern Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in West Burlington, Iowa, this small public school awarded 216 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Community College is $4,925 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school awarded 1,299 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

DMACC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Des Moines Area Community College is $7,776 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

#3

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Kirkwood Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 730 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $8,067 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Kirkwood Community College

#4

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Marshalltown Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Marshalltown, Iowa, this small public school handed out 152 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Marshalltown Community College is $5,073 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Marshalltown Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Iowa Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Iowa Area Community College is a small school located in Mason City, Iowa that handed out 405 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Iowa Area Community College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Iowa Area Community College is $6,551 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at North Iowa Area Community College

Indian Hills Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 349 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IHCC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $5,644 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indian Hills Community College.

Full Indian Hills Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Calmar, Iowa, and it awarded 139 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, NICC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,987 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northeast Iowa Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northeast Iowa Community College

Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sheldon, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

Northwest Iowa Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Iowa Community College is $9,985 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwest Iowa Community College

Iowa Central Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 454 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa Central Community College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,979 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

With a ranking of #10, Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern Iowa Community College District is located in Davenport, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 504 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is $8,406 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 165 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $5,665 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#12

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It awarded 490 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $9,341 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Western Community College

#13

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa

Ellsworth Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa Falls, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ellsworth has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ellsworth is $8,576 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Ellsworth Community College

#14

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

With a ranking of #14, Hawkeye Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 297 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Hawkeye Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hawkeye Community College is $9,084 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Hawkeye Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Creston, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 120 students in 2019-2020.

SWCC also took the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SWCC is $6,914 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SWCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#16

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa

With a ranking of #16, William Penn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at William Penn University, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William Penn University is $18,845 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at William Penn University

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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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