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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa

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

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,684 and $18,179 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools

The liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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 / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Top 16 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Iowa

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 1,299 students in 2019-2020.

DMACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $10,076 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at DMACC

#2

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#3 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 Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 730 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $10,939 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Kirkwood Community College

#9 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, this small public school handed out 349 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

IHCC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IHCC is $7,217 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full Indian Hills Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#5 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 Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Sheldon, Iowa. It awarded 67 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest Iowa Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Iowa Community College is $12,125 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Northwest Iowa Community College

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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. Iowa Central Community College is a small school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 454 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $10,102 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Iowa Central Community College

#7 in overall quality

North Iowa Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #6. North Iowa Area Community College is a small school located in Mason City, Iowa that handed out 405 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Iowa Area Community College is $8,409 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at North Iowa Area Community College

#7

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Iowa Western Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 490 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Western Community College is $11,477 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#10 in overall quality

Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 504 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Iowa Community College District is $10,650 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Eastern Iowa Community College District

#9

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

Marshalltown Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking, coming in at #9. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 152 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $7,456 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Marshalltown Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Marshalltown Community College

#10

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa
#14 in overall quality

Ellsworth Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. Iowa Falls, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

Ellsworth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ellsworth Community College is $11,198 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Ellsworth

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 165 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,201 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#12

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Hawkeye Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $11,495 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Hawkeye Community College.

Full Hawkeye Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#13

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Southeastern Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa 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 arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Southeastern Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $7,223 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Southeastern Community College

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. Northeast Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 139 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, NICC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NICC is $10,505 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full NICC Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#16 in overall quality

Southwestern Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa list. Located in Creston, Iowa, this small public school handed out 120 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SWCC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SWCC is $9,013 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at SWCC

#16

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

William Penn University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in Iowa ranking. William Penn University is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

William Penn University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William Penn University is $20,637 for iowa associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full William Penn University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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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