There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges in the Far Western US Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
Our analysis looked at 159 schools in the Far Western US Region to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. A associate degree holder from a school in the Far Western US Region makes an average starting salary of $39,803, but the students who attended schools in the top 24 of our list make an average of $48,452.
Starting Salary ( 27861 to 63330 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in the Far Western US Region take out an average of $17,868.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
Our 2024 rankings named Mount Saint Mary’s University the best school in the Far Western US Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. MSMU is located in Los Angeles, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MSMU is $67,666 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,611. Average monthly loan payments are around $181 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 159 associate degree schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Golden West College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Huntington Beach, California, the fairly large public school awarded 4,131 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,273 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,137 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at Honolulu Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Far Western US Region. Honolulu CC is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 562 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Honolulu CC is $55,089 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,663.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cuesta College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,403 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Cuesta College make an average of $48,355 a year.
The excellent associate degree programs at National University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Far Western US Region. Located in San Diego, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 229 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,395 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,401 after getting their degree.
MTI College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. MTI College is a private for-profit institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MTI College is $37,837 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,823 after getting their degree.
Saddleback College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California. It awarded 3,190 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $73,348 during the early years of their career.
Southwestern College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. SWC Chula Vista is a public institution located in Chula Vista, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,164 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from SWC Chula Vista is $30,359 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,558 in student loans.
Portland Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Portland Community College is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,703 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Portland Community College go into careers with an average salary of $45,761 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $23,802 after getting their degree.
Pacific Union College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Pacific Union College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Angwin, California that handed out 111 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $27,440 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $222 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Foothill College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large public school is located in Los Altos Hills, California, and it awarded 1,228 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Foothill College make an average of $97,367 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,500 after getting their degree.
San Joaquin Delta College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #12. San Joaquin Delta College is a fairly large public school located in Stockton, California that handed out 2,676 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,671 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $5,500.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. SRJC is a public institution located in Santa Rosa, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,441 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from SRJC go into careers with an average salary of $61,741 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,067 after getting their degree.
Oregon Institute of Technology landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the small public school handed out 31 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from OIT make an average of $54,923 a year.
Cerritos College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Norwalk, California, the fairly large public school awarded 2,342 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Cerritos College go into careers with an average salary of $50,492 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,935 after getting their degree.
Clover Park Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. CPTC is a public institution located in Lakewood, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 563 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from CPTC is $43,941 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $15,435.
Pasadena City College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7,730 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Pasadena City College is $45,432 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,020.
Los Angeles Pierce College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Pierce College is a public institution located in Woodland Hills, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,305 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,367 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,000 after getting their degree.
The University of Arizona Global Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 272 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from UAGC is $21,122 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $25,616 after getting their degree.
Cypress College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cypress College is located in Cypress, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,722 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,651 during the early years of their career.
Academy of Art University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 113 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Academy of Art University make an average of $26,491 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $35,030.
College of Southern Nevada landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,360 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from CSN go into careers with an average salary of $34,877 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,984.
West Valley College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. West Valley College is a public institution located in Saratoga, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,482 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from West Valley College make an average of $34,585 per year during the early years of their career.
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Valley Glen, California, the fairly large public school handed out 1,892 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $70,832 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,785 after getting their degree.
Riverside City College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Riverside City College is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,223 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Riverside City College go into careers with an average salary of $31,275 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,114 in student loans.
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%.
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