by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Associate Degree Colleges in the Plains States Region ranking.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
Our analysis looked at 136 schools in the Plains States 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.
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 the Plains States Region makes an average starting salary of $36,723, but the students who attended schools in the top 20 of our list make an average of $44,558.
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 the Plains States Region have accumulated an average of $22,140 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.
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.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best schools ranking methodology page.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Washington University in St Louis tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in the Plains States Region for overall quality. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 14 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Ranken Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Plains States Region. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 372 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Ranken Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $41,520 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,271 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $131 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in the Plains States Region list means St Catherine University is a great place for students working on their degree. St. Kate’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 354 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,180 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $37,074 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $182 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hennepin Technical College. The school came in at #4 in the Plains States Region on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. This small public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 498 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Hennepin Technical College make an average of $44,413 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,644.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Park University. The school came in at #5 in the Plains States Region on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Park University is $51,409 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,634.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in St. Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 1,179 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Rasmussen University - Minnesota go into careers with an average salary of $38,538 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $25,719 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $175 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #7, Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 579 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,151 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,101 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $115.
Rockhurst University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Rockhurst is located in Kansas City, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Dordt University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Normandale Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bloomington, Minnesota. It awarded 1,208 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Normandale Community College go into careers with an average salary of $41,929 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,471 in student loans.
Kansas State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. K -State is a fairly large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 21 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Waldorf University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Waldorf is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 177 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Waldorf go into careers with an average salary of $67,267 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,112 after getting their degree.
Columbia College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Columbia College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 839 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,931 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $27,979 in student loans.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. DCTC is located in Rosemount, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 391 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from DCTC make an average of $46,679 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,261 after getting their degree.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. WSU Tech is located in Wichita, Kansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 236 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from WSU Tech make an average of $41,712 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,467 in student loans.
Read full report on Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
South Dakota State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 91 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,812 in student loans.
Century College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 1,145 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Century College make an average of $42,292 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $23,193.
Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 2,029 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from DMACC make an average of $37,656 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,737 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $64 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Bismarck State College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 792 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from BSC is $52,912 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,549.
Flint Hills Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Flint Hills Technical College is a small public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 105 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Flint Hills Technical College is $47,995 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $20,313 after getting their degree.
Dunwoody College of Technology ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 299 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Dunwoody College of Technology make an average of $49,542 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,197.
With a ranking of #22, Dakota State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Dakota State University is a small public school located in Madison, South Dakota that handed out 40 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Dakota State is $36,834 during the early years of their career.
Johnson County Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large public school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 1,705 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from JCCC is $40,624 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,480 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #24, Metropolitan Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 1,427 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MCC is $37,258 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,122 after getting their degree.
State Technical College of Missouri came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. STC is located in Linn, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 601 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,325 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,617 after getting their degree.
View Best Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Coon Rapids, MN |
| 27 | Mitchell Technical College | Mitchell, SD |
| 28 | Baker University | Baldwin City, KS |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
