by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 135 schools across the Plains States Region to determine which have the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $48-$75k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Washington University in St Louis the best value (income $48-$75k) school in the Plains States Region for students working on their associate degree. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
Washington University in St Louis has the honor of being ranked #1 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,248.
The quality degree programs at Ranken Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ranken Technical College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Missouri. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,947.
Out of the 135 associate degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Not only is Metropolitan Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Nebraska for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,298.
The quality degree programs at Hennepin Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region. Hennepin Technical College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Not only is Hennepin Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,098.
The quality degree programs at Garden City Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region. This small public school is located in Garden City, Kansas.
Not only is Garden City Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Kansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,858.
St Charles Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cottleville, Missouri, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
St Charles Community College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,935.
Northwest Kansas Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in Goodland, Kansas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwest Kansas Technical College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Kansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,894.
St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.
Not only is St Cloud Technical and Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,175.
Read full value report on St Cloud Technical and Community College
With a ranking of #9, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Missouri. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,855.
Full Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Value Report
With a ranking of #10, Dakota County Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. DCTC is a small public school situated in Rosemount, Minnesota.
Not only is Dakota County Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,082.
Bismarck State College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. BSC is a small public school situated in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Not only is Bismarck State College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in North Dakota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,397.
Century College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
Century College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,429.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. This large public school is located in Ankeny, Iowa.
Des Moines Area Community College has the honor of being ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,962.
Marshalltown Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Marshalltown Community College is located in Marshalltown, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Marshalltown Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,564.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Kansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,909.
Learn More About Value at Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Missouri Southern State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Missouri Southern is a small public school situated in Joplin, Missouri.
Not only is Missouri Southern State University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Missouri for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,109.
Normandale Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized public school is located in Bloomington, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Normandale Community College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,838.
Salina Area Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. Salina, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Salina Area Technical College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Kansas. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,887.
With a ranking of #19, Northeast Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Norfolk, Nebraska.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northeast Community College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Nebraska. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,811.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. M State is a public institution located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #18 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,246.
Read full value report on Minnesota State Community and Technical College
North Hennepin Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. North Hennepin Community College is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, North Hennepin Community College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,487.
Southeast Community College Area landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Southeast Community College Area is a medium-sized public school located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Not only is Southeast Community College Area a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Nebraska for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,650.
With a ranking of #23, State Fair Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region list. State Fair Community College is a small public school situated in Sedalia, Missouri.
State Fair Community College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,102.
Anoka Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Anoka Technical College is a small public school located in Anoka, Minnesota.
Not only is Anoka Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,801.
Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution located in Sioux City, Iowa.
Western Iowa Tech Community College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,321.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $48-$75k) Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Cowley County Community College | Arkansas City, KS | Value Report |
| 27 | Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown, SD | Value Report |
| 28 | Barton County Community College | Great Bend, KS | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
