by our College Data Analytics Team
[Associate Degree Schools](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 524 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value associate degree schools schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in associate degree schools, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in associate degree schools, no school beat Grossmont College this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washtenaw Community College earned it the #2 place for associate degree schools. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in associate degree schools will find it at Moreno Valley College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $45,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in associate degree schools, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Petersburg College earned it the #5 place for associate degree schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $24,385. Associate Degree Schools graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
Sinclair Community College came in at #6 for value in associate degree schools this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $12,525. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami Dade College placed #7 among the best values for associate degree schools. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #9 spot for associate degree schools value this year. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Students from in state pay about $4,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $29,354. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #10 for value in associate degree schools this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,900 median debt.
Utah Valley University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #12 for value in associate degree schools this year. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,886 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College placed #13 among the best values for associate degree schools. Set in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $17,619. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $16,374. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $38,094. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Eastern Florida State College placed #15 among the best values for associate degree schools. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. Students from in state pay about $2,791 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,976 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $18,123 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Eastern Florida State College earn a median of $44,690 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,123 median debt.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #16 for value in associate degree schools this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Edison State College landed the #17 spot for associate degree schools value this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,401, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Edison State College earn a median of $52,597 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,356 median debt.
Onondaga Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Students borrow a median of $12,623 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $35,781. That is a strong return on a $12,623 median debt.
East Los Angeles College came in at #19 for value in associate degree schools this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $8,180. Associate Degree Schools graduates of East Los Angeles College earn a median of $33,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Wayne County Community College District generally make around $48,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $35,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt.
Chemeketa Community College came in at #22 for value in associate degree schools this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $45,440. Set against $15,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College landed the #23 spot for associate degree schools value this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rose State College earned the #24 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Set in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,030, while out-of-state students pay about $11,407. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $10,286 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Rose State College earn a median of $58,988 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,286 median debt.
Washington State Community College landed the #25 spot for associate degree schools value this year. Set in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,152 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,291 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $45,305. Set against $16,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools also delivered strong value for associate degree schools this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Associate Degree Schools rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 524 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.