by our College Data Analytics Team
[Associate Degree Schools](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value associate degree schools schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the associate degree schools degrees they offer, see the list below.
Grossmont College earned the #1 spot for value among associate degree schools schools in the United States. Grossmont College is a very large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $8,794. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,111 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for associate degree schools. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $17,616. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in associate degree schools will find it at Miami Dade College, which ranked #4. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Petersburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in associate degree schools, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,385 to complete the associate degree schools program here. 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.
Utah Valley University placed #6 among the best values for associate degree schools. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College came in at #7 for value in associate degree schools this year. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $9,490. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $37,472. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College earned the #8 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Moreno Valley College earned the #9 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #10 among the best values for associate degree schools. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #11 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. 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.
Edison State College placed #13 among the best values for associate degree schools. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,401, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $13,356. 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.
Eastern Florida State College earned the #14 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,791, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $18,123 in student loans. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $44,690. Set against $18,123 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wake Technical Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $17,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. That is a strong return on a $17,900 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. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $11,653. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $34,214. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #17 spot for associate degree schools value this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Set against $16,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Crescent Technical College earned the #18 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Griffin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, while out-of-state students pay about $6,084. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Southern Crescent Technical College generally make around $45,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washington State Community College earned the #19 position for value in associate degree schools this year. Located in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,128, compared with $4,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $16,291. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $45,305. Set against $16,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Onondaga Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,102, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $12,623. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value associate degree schools schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $35,887. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne County Community College District placed #22 among the best values for associate degree schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $48,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Los Angeles College landed the #23 spot for associate degree schools value this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College placed #24 among the best values for associate degree schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $12,388. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rose State College placed #25 among the best values for associate degree schools. Located in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,030, compared with $11,407 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $10,286. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Rose State College earn a median of $58,988 early in their careers. Set against $10,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools also delivered strong value for associate degree schools this year:
Explore the best-value associate degree schools schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.