It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Texas Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
Our analysis looked at 62 schools in Texas 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. A associate degree holder from a school in Texas makes an average starting salary of $35,954, but the students who attended schools in the top 23 of our list make an average of $40,353.
Starting Salary ( 28629 to 48965 )
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.
When attending a school in Texas, associate degree students accumulate an average of $18,599 in student debt before graduation.
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 Lee College the best school in Texas in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Lee College is a medium-sized public school located in Baytown, Texas that handed out 1,223 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Lee College make an average of $62,127 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,617.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Texas list means Texas State Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Texas State Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 1,697 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,346 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,597 in student loans.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tarleton State University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Tarleton is located in Stephenville, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Tarleton is $46,771 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $18,414 after getting their degree.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in Texas list means Lamar Institute of Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Lamar Institute of Technology is located in Beaumont, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 558 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from Lamar Institute of Technology make an average of $52,397 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,660 in student loans.
Out of the 62 associate degree schools in Texas that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Texas College landed the #5 spot on the list. Central Texas College is a medium-sized public school situated in Killeen, Texas. It awarded 1,883 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Central Texas College is $46,587 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,925.
Houston Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 5,462 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Houston Community College is $38,797 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $22,025 after getting their degree.
El Centro College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school handed out 9,894 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,988 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,728 in student loans.
Northwest Vista College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Northwest Vista College is located in San Antonio, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,706 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $21,654 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,251.
With a ranking of #9, Wayland Baptist University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Located in Plainview, Texas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 144 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Collin County Community College District landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Collin County Community College District is a large public school located in McKinney, Texas that handed out 4,408 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Collin County Community College District go into careers with an average salary of $42,890 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,949 in student loans.
South Texas College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #11. South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,920 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from South Texas College go into careers with an average salary of $29,582 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $6,607 in student loans.
With a ranking of #12, McLennan Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. This medium-sized public school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 1,351 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,742 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,462.
San Antonio College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #13. San Antonio College is a fairly large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 3,384 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from San Antonio College is $26,177 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,209 after getting their degree.
Del Mar College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #14. DMC is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,344 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from DMC make an average of $43,464 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,968.
Austin Community College District came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Austin Community College District is a large public school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 4,578 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,097 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,818 after getting their degree.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. San Jacinto College is a large public school situated in Pasadena, Texas. It awarded 5,035 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from San Jacinto College go into careers with an average salary of $39,425 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,907 after getting their degree.
Tarrant County College District did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #17. Tarrant County College is a public institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,226 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Tarrant County College go into careers with an average salary of $40,273 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,398 in student loans.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Waxahachie, Texas, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 219 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $27,167 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $279 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Panola College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Panola College is located in Carthage, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 343 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Panola College is $24,861 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Lamar State College - Orange did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Lamar State College - Orange is a public institution located in Orange, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 226 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Lamar State College - Orange make an average of $62,950 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,811.
Lone Star College System ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school handed out 8,422 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from North Harris Montgomery make an average of $36,004 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,323.
Odessa College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Odessa College is a medium-sized public school located in Odessa, Texas that handed out 1,095 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Odessa College go into careers with an average salary of $36,427 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,785 in student loans.
Blinn College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Located in Brenham, Texas, the fairly large public school awarded 2,980 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Blinn College make an average of $44,068 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,267 in student loans.
With a ranking of #24, St Philip’s College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,216 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from St Philip’s College make an average of $37,586 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $15,326.
Victoria College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #25. This small public school is located in Victoria, Texas, and it awarded 358 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Victoria College go into careers with an average salary of $46,897 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,495 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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