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 Kansas ranking.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
After analyzing 31 schools in Kansas, we came up with our list of those that offered 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.
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While associate degree recipients from schools in Kansas earn an average starting salary of $36,801, those from the top 23 school on this list made an average of $39,441.
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree. Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Kansas have accumulated an average of $22,074 in student debt. The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt. On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
To learn more, visit our best colleges ranking methodology page.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Kansas State University to be the best school for associate degrees in Kansas in this year’s ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out of the 31 associate degree schools in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology landed the #2 spot on the list. WSU Tech is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 236 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from WSU Tech is $41,712 during the early years of their career. 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
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Flint Hills Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Flint Hills Technical College is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 105 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Flint Hills Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $47,995 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,313 in student loans.
Out of the 31 associate degree schools in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson County Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. JCCC is a public institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,705 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from JCCC make an average of $40,624 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,480 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washburn University. The school came in at #5 in Kansas on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 241 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Washburn University make an average of $43,830 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,000 after getting their degree.
Garden City Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. This small public school is located in Garden City, Kansas, and it awarded 267 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Garden City Community College make an average of $37,354 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,738 after getting their degree.
Salina Area Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Salina Tech is a small public school situated in Salina, Kansas. It awarded 58 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Salina Tech is $42,173 during the early years of their career.
Northwest Kansas Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Located in Goodland, Kansas, the small public school awarded 133 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from NWKTC go into careers with an average salary of $37,540 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,000 after getting their degree.
Barton County Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Barton County Community College is a small public school located in Great Bend, Kansas that handed out 593 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Barton Community College make an average of $41,383 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,455 after getting their degree.
Wichita State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 96 students in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,796.
With a ranking of #11, Butler Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Butler Community College is a medium-sized public school located in El Dorado, Kansas that handed out 1,088 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Butler CC is $30,089 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,518 after getting their degree.
Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #12. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large public school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 96 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from FHSU is $46,912 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $23,000 in student loans.
With a ranking of #13, Newman University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Newman University make an average of $44,265 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $23,125 in student loans.
Colby Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Colby, Kansas, the small public school handed out 231 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Colby Community College make an average of $35,960 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,768 after getting their degree.
Hesston College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Hesston, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Hesston go into careers with an average salary of $14,667 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,000 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $196.
Cowley County Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Arkansas City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 472 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Cowley College make an average of $30,883 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,328 in student loans.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school situated in Kansas City, Kansas. It awarded 474 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College make an average of $41,282 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,700 in student loans.
Manhattan Area Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. MATC is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 107 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from MATC make an average of $50,709 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $23,331 after getting their degree.
Seward County Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #19. SCCC is located in Liberal, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 196 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from SCCC go into careers with an average salary of $53,776 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,265 in student loans.
Hutchinson Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Located in Hutchinson, Kansas, the small public school handed out 784 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Hutchinson Community College make an average of $39,498 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $18,543 after getting their degree.
Labette Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #21. This small public school is located in Parsons, Kansas, and it awarded 141 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Labette Community College is $39,899 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,157 in student loans.
Independence Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #22. Independence Community College is a public institution located in Independence, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 115 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Independence Community College make an average of $17,470 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,091 in student loans.
Dodge City Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #23. This small public school is located in Dodge City, Kansas, and it awarded 118 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Dodge City Community College is $50,338 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,383 in student loans.
North Central Kansas Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in Beloit, Kansas, the small public school awarded 116 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from North Central Kansas Technical College is $42,539 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,038.
With a ranking of #25, Neosho County Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Kansas list. Neosho County Community College is located in Chanute, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 340 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Neosho County Community College is $36,250 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,014.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
