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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

16 Ranked Colleges
5,668 Degrees Awarded
$10,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts general studies 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 liberal arts general studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies 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 Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid.

Top 16 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa (With Aid)

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. DMACC is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 1,299 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

#2

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Community College landed the #2 spot on the 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 $7,223 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.

Full Southeastern Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#3

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this fairly large public school awarded 730 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kirkwood Community College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,939 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

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 Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Marshalltown, Iowa, and it awarded 152 associates’s liberal arts degrees 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 $7,456 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Iowa Area Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 405 students in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Iowa Area Community College is $8,409 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Indian Hills Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indian Hills Community College is a public institution located in Ottumwa, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 349 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IHCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $7,217 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Indian Hills Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at IHCC

Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. NICC is a small school located in Calmar, Iowa that handed out 139 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid list, NICC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NICC is $10,505 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at NICC

Iowa Central Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and it awarded 454 associates’s liberal arts 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. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $10,102 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid.

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

Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a medium-sized school located in Davenport, Iowa that handed out 504 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is $10,650 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest Iowa Community College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $12,125 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa

With a ranking of #11, Iowa Western Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 490 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Iowa Western Community College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Western Community College is $11,477 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid.

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

Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 165 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid.

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

#13

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

With a ranking of #13, Hawkeye Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 297 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students 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. It costs about $11,495 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Hawkeye Community College.

Full Hawkeye Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#14

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa

With a ranking of #14, Ellsworth Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, this small public school awarded 89 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid list, Ellsworth has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ellsworth Community College is $11,198 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid.

Full Ellsworth Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

With a ranking of #15, Southwestern Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. SWCC is a small school located in Creston, Iowa that handed out 120 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SWCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $9,013 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend SWCC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Southwestern Community College

#16

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa

William Penn University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. William Penn University is a small school located in Oskaloosa, Iowa that handed out 1 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

William Penn University also took 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 $20,637 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students with aid.

Full William Penn University Liberal Arts General Studies 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.

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