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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa

16 Ranked Colleges
5,668 Degrees Awarded
$10,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts 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 has developed its “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 559,661 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. 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” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

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”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa

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

Top 16 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. This large school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 1,299 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students list, DMACC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,076 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Des Moines Area Community College.

Full DMACC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#2

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Kirkwood Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this fairly large public school awarded 730 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $10,939 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full Kirkwood Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts 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. 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.

IHCC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indian Hills Community College is $7,217 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students.

Full IHCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Sheldon, Iowa, this small public school handed out 67 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts 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 per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa Central Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa. This small school is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and it awarded 454 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $10,102 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students 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 #6, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. This small school is located in Mason City, Iowa, and it awarded 405 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend North Iowa Area Community College is $8,409 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#7

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 ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 490 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Western Community College is $11,477 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

With a ranking of #8, Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a medium-sized school located in Davenport, Iowa that handed out 504 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students list, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,650 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.

Full Eastern Iowa Community College District Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#9

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa

Marshalltown Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #9. Marshalltown, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 152 students in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $7,456 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full Marshalltown Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa

Ellsworth Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. Located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, this small public school handed out 89 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Ellsworth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ellsworth is $11,198 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full Ellsworth Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #11. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 165 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 $7,201 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

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

#12

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 297 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students list, Hawkeye Community College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hawkeye Community College is $11,495 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Hawkeye Community College

#13

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

Southeastern Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13. Southeastern Community College is a small public school situated in West Burlington, Iowa. It awarded 216 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students list, Southeastern Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $7,223 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students.

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

Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #14. Calmar, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 139 students in 2019-2020.

NICC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for NICC is $10,505 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students.

Full Northeast Iowa Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Southwestern Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts 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 #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $9,013 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Southwestern Community College.

Full SWCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#16

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa

William Penn University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $20,637 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend William Penn University.

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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