It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. 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 the Middle Atlantic Region ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 173 colleges and universities across the Middle Atlantic Region to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
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 the Middle Atlantic Region earn an average starting salary of $35,164, those from the top 19 school on this list made an average of $42,823.
Starting Salary ( 29156 to 55434 )
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 the Middle Atlantic Region take out an average of $17,633.
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.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Thomas Jefferson University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in the Middle Atlantic Region for overall quality. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 54 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Thomas Jefferson University make an average of $47,661 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $36,635.
The excellent associate degree programs at New York University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. NYU is located in New York, New York and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 109 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from NYU is $60,040 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,000 in student loans.
Out of the 173 associate degree schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The New School landed the #3 spot on the list. New School University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 167 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from New School University go into careers with an average salary of $45,807 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,250 in student loans.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in the Middle Atlantic Region list means University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a great place for students working on their degree. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Pitt make an average of $43,591 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $20,875. Average monthly loan payments are around $270 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent associate degree programs at George Washington University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 61 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from GWU make an average of $35,205 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,500 after getting their degree.
University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. UMGC is located in Adelphi, Maryland and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,512 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from UMGC make an average of $34,203 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,573 after getting their degree.
Fashion Institute of Technology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,925 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from FIT SUNY make an average of $20,231 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,833 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $276 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. ESF is located in Syracuse, New York and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the large public school handed out 37 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Rutgers New Brunswick is $57,048 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,899.
Montgomery College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Rockville, Maryland, and it awarded 2,913 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Montgomery College make an average of $39,576 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,625 after getting their degree.
Excelsior University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Albany, New York, and it awarded 2,266 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,610 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,053 in student loans.
SUNY Empire State College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. SUNY Empire is located in Saratoga Springs, New York and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 515 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,296 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,638.
University of Delaware came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. University of Delaware is a large public school located in Newark, Delaware that handed out 325 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from UD make an average of $14,114 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $6,500 in student loans.
Howard Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Columbia, Maryland, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,341 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,948 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,419.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a public institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 428 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is $40,004 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,606.
Central Penn College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Central Penn College is a small private for-profit school located in Summerdale, Pennsylvania that handed out 110 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,533 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,334. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $190.
Molloy College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Molloy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rockville Centre, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Molloy make an average of $70,960 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $29,443 after getting their degree.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. IUP is a public institution located in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Alvernia University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Reading, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 83 students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #20, Yeshiva University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Yeshiva is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 537 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Gannon University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Erie, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, Delaware Valley University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. DelVal is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 7 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Delaware Technical Community College - Terry ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Dover, Delaware, the fairly large public school handed out 1,685 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Delaware Tech make an average of $34,599 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,904.
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Flushing, New York, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 167 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology make an average of $37,485 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,625 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $143 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #25, Bergen Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, New Jersey and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,272 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Bergen Community College is $47,732 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,103. Average monthly loan payments are around $94 for a 10-year repayment plan.
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%.