When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top California Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 91 schools in California, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. While associate degree recipients from schools in California earn an average starting salary of $38,972, those from the top 24 school on this list made an average of $47,057.
Starting Salary ( 25197 to 61441 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in California take out an average of $17,699.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Mount Saint Mary’s University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in California for overall quality. MSMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 72 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,666 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,611 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $181 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
The excellent associate degree programs at Golden West College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in California. Located in Huntington Beach, California, the fairly large public school awarded 4,131 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Golden West College make an average of $52,273 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,137 in student loans.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in California list means Cuesta College is a great place for students working on their degree. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,403 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Cuesta College go into careers with an average salary of $48,355 during the early years of their career.
The excellent associate degree programs at National University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in California. National University is located in San Diego, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 229 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from National University go into careers with an average salary of $40,395 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,401.
Out of the 91 associate degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Saddleback College landed the #5 spot on the list. Mission Viejo, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,190 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Saddleback College go into careers with an average salary of $73,348 during the early years of their career.
Southwestern College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in Chula Vista, California, the fairly large public school handed out 2,164 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from SWC Chula Vista go into careers with an average salary of $30,359 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,558 in student loans.
Pacific Union College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in Angwin, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 111 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $27,440 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $222.
Foothill College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Los Altos Hills, California, and it awarded 1,228 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $97,367 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,500.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Delta is a public institution located in Stockton, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,676 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Delta make an average of $31,671 per year 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 #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,441 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,741 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,067 in student loans.
With a ranking of #11, Cerritos College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. Norwalk, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,342 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Cerritos College make an average of $50,492 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,935 after getting their degree.
Pasadena City College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California 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.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Pasadena City College make an average of $45,432 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,020.
Los Angeles Pierce College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in Woodland Hills, California, the fairly large public school awarded 2,305 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Pierce College is $41,367 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,000.
The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. UAGC is a large private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 272 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from UAGC make an average of $21,122 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $25,616 after getting their degree.
Cypress College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Cypress College is a fairly large public school situated in Cypress, California. It awarded 1,722 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
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 #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 113 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Academy of Art University is $26,491 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $35,030 in student loans.
With a ranking of #17, West Valley College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. West Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Saratoga, California. It awarded 1,482 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from West Valley College go into careers with an average salary of $34,585 during the early years of their career.
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. LAVC is a public institution located in Valley Glen, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,892 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from LAVC is $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.
With a ranking of #19, Riverside City College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 4,223 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Riverside City College make an average of $31,275 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,114 after getting their degree.
Coastline Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in Fountain Valley, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,704 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Coastline Community College is $36,233 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,104 after getting their degree.
Los Angeles Harbor College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. LAHC is located in Wilmington, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,134 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from LAHC make an average of $51,999 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,270 after getting their degree.
Brandman University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Irvine, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 181 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Brandman make an average of $37,928 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,500 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #23, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is located in Visalia, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 351 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia make an average of $45,272 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,774 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $141 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #24, College of the Canyons did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in Santa Clarita, California, the fairly large public school handed out 3,200 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from College of the Canyons is $39,317 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,269.
With a ranking of #25, Chaffey College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list. Chaffey College is a fairly large public school located in Rancho Cucamonga, California that handed out 3,883 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Chaffey College go into careers with an average salary of $28,190 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,280.
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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