When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Washington ranking is part of that endeavor.
After analyzing 33 schools in Washington, 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. A associate degree holder from a school in Washington makes an average starting salary of $41,435, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $42,256.
Starting Salary ( 34475 to 53373 )
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.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Washington have accumulated an average of $16,352 in student debt.
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.
Our 2024 rankings named Clover Park Technical College the best school in Washington in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Lakewood, Washington, and it awarded 563 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,941 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,435 after getting their degree.
Out of the 33 associate degree schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Bellevue, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 2,220 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from BC make an average of $57,430 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,551 in student loans.
Out of the 33 associate degree schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Washington Institute of Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. LWTech is a public institution located in Kirkland, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 498 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from LWTech is $49,885 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,875 in student loans.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in Washington list means Bellingham Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Bellingham Technical College is a small public school located in Bellingham, Washington that handed out 512 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute go into careers with an average salary of $47,075 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in Washington list means Highline College is a great place for students working on their degree. Highline is located in Des Moines, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 913 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from Highline make an average of $47,918 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,927.
Renton Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Renton Technical College is a public institution located in Renton, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 301 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Renton Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $58,605 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,125 after getting their degree.
Olympic College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Bremerton, Washington, the small public school handed out 1,273 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from OC make an average of $48,522 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,099 in student loans.
Shoreline Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Shoreline, Washington, the small public school awarded 964 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Shoreline Community College is $50,689 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,229.
Columbia Basin College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. CBC is a medium-sized public school situated in Pasco, Washington. It awarded 1,394 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from CBC make an average of $49,736 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,161 after getting their degree.
Seattle Central College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 931 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Seattle Central make an average of $48,801 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,556 in student loans.
Edmonds Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Edmonds Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Lynnwood, Washington that handed out 935 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Edmonds Community College is $21,931 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,980 in student loans.
Cascadia College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #12. This small public school is located in Bothell, Washington, and it awarded 569 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Cascadia College make an average of $31,557 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,849.
Tacoma Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Tacoma, Washington, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,099 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Tacoma Community College make an average of $43,924 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,708 in student loans.
With a ranking of #14, Centralia College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Centralia College is located in Centralia, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 441 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from Centralia College make an average of $47,230 per year during the early years of their career.
North Seattle College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Seattle, Washington, the small public school handed out 444 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from North Seattle make an average of $49,823 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,250 in student loans.
South Seattle College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. South Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 421 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from South Seattle make an average of $35,232 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Spokane Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Spokane Community College is a public institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,121 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Spokane Community College go into careers with an average salary of $38,620 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $18,623 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #18, Clark College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Clark College is a medium-sized public school situated in Vancouver, Washington. It awarded 1,611 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Clark College go into careers with an average salary of $33,545 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,727 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #19, Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Lakewood, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,671 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom make an average of $22,356 a year.
Wenatchee Valley College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #20. Wenatchee, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 668 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from WVC go into careers with an average salary of $38,397 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,510 after getting their degree.
Walla Walla Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Walla Walla Community College is a small public school situated in Walla Walla, Washington. It awarded 637 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,019 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,740 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #22, Yakima Valley College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. YVC is located in Yakima, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 783 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,115 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,089 after getting their degree.
South Puget Sound Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #23. South Puget Sound Community College is a public institution located in Olympia, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,246 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from South Puget Sound Community College go into careers with an average salary of $39,106 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,587 in student loans.
Spokane Falls Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #24. Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,049 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Spokane Falls Community College go into careers with an average salary of $31,050 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,827 in student loans.
Everett Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Everett, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,421 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Everett Community College make an average of $42,890 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,833.
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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