by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Missouri Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 28 colleges and universities across Missouri 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.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. While associate degree recipients from schools in Missouri earn an average starting salary of $32,899, those from the top 19 school on this list made an average of $39,084.
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well. When attending a school in Missouri, associate degree students accumulate an average of $23,654 in student debt before graduation. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking. These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Find out more about our best schools ranking methodology
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 Missouri for overall quality. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Missouri list means Ranken Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. 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.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Ranken Technical College is $41,520 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,271 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $131 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent associate degree programs at Park University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Missouri. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Parkville, Missouri, and it awarded 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Park University go into careers with an average salary of $51,409 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,634 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rockhurst University. The school came in at #4 in Missouri on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Columbia College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Missouri. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 839 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Columbia College Missouri is $39,931 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $27,979.
State Technical College of Missouri landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri 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.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school handed out 1,868 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MCC is $39,719 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,310 in student loans.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
With a ranking of #8, St Charles Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Cottleville, Missouri that handed out 847 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,391 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,678 after getting their degree.
Missouri Southern State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking, coming in at #9. Missouri Southern is a public institution located in Joplin, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 142 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $24,833 in student loans.
Southwest Baptist University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 166 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Southwest Baptist University go into careers with an average salary of $49,847 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $25,245 in student loans.
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Fayette, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. OTC is a fairly large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 1,607 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from OTC is $29,670 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,005.
With a ranking of #13, Hannibal - LaGrange University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Hannibal, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from HLGU make an average of $51,396 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $28,258 in student loans.
Saint Louis Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. This fairly large public school is located in Bridgeton, Missouri, and it awarded 2,102 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Saint Louis Community College make an average of $32,815 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,298.
State Fair Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. This small public school is located in Sedalia, Missouri, and it awarded 679 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from State Fair Community College go into careers with an average salary of $41,167 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,247 in student loans.
Three Rivers College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking, coming in at #16. Three Rivers College is a small public school located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri that handed out 477 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Three Rivers College is $28,775 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,243 after getting their degree.
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 15 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $25,563 in student loans.
With a ranking of #18, North Central Missouri College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Trenton, Missouri, the small public school awarded 319 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from NCMC go into careers with an average salary of $35,982 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,817.
Lincoln University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking, coming in at #19. LU Missouri is a public institution located in Jefferson City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from LU Missouri is $48,672 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $29,750 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #20, Crowder College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Crowder College is a small public school situated in Neosho, Missouri. It awarded 653 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $28,929 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,207 in student loans.
With a ranking of #21, Mineral Area College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Park Hills, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 487 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from MAC go into careers with an average salary of $35,468 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,181.
With a ranking of #22, Moberly Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Moberly, Missouri, the medium-sized public school awarded 807 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,324 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,611 in student loans.
Missouri Western State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Missouri Western is a small public school situated in Saint Joseph, Missouri. It awarded 24 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Jefferson College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. JeffCo is a small public school situated in Hillsboro, Missouri. It awarded 606 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from JeffCo go into careers with an average salary of $37,846 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,886.
With a ranking of #25, East Central College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Union, Missouri, the small public school awarded 432 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,406 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,165.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
