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 Iowa ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 18 colleges and universities across Iowa to determine which ones have 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. Recent students who earned a associate degree in Iowa entered the job market making an average of $37,340 while those in the top 16 schools on our list made an average of $38,536.
Starting Salary ( 28554 to 48055 )
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 Iowa have accumulated an average of $19,937 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 Waldorf University the best school in Iowa in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Located in Forest City, Iowa, the small private for-profit school awarded 177 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students 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. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,112.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Iowa list means Des Moines Area Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,029 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,656 during the early years of their career. 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.
Out of the 18 associate degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Upper Iowa University landed the #3 spot on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 102 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $27,843.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree in Iowa list means Iowa Western Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the medium-sized public school handed out 765 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Iowa Western Community College go into careers with an average salary of $39,271 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,239. This translates to an average monthly payment of $97 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in Iowa list means Iowa Central Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 777 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Iowa Central Community College is $42,993 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $18,807 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $62 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 422 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College is $32,245 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,920 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #7, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 1,654 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Kirkwood Community College make an average of $38,954 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,661. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $59.
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 207 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,851 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,034 in student loans.
With a ranking of #9, Marshalltown Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Marshalltown Community College is a small public school situated in Marshalltown, Iowa. It awarded 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,797 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,262.
With a ranking of #10, Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. NICC is located in Calmar, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 454 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #11. Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 669 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Hawkeye Community College make an average of $38,965 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,815 in student loans.
Southeastern Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Southeastern Community College is a small public school located in West Burlington, Iowa that handed out 408 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $38,988 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,297.
Indian Hills Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. IHCC is a small public school situated in Ottumwa, Iowa. It awarded 538 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from IHCC make an average of $43,385 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,364 after getting their degree.
Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #14. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a medium-sized public school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 846 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,755 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,235.
Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Creston, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 247 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from SWCC make an average of $34,739 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,465.
With a ranking of #16, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Located in Mason City, Iowa, the small public school handed out 580 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from North Iowa Area Community College is $35,777 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,469 in student loans.
Iowa Lakes Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Estherville, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 312 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Iowa Lakes Community College make an average of $31,031 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,710.
Ellsworth Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, the small public school handed out 140 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Ellsworth make an average of $19,895 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,000. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $70.
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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