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2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k

261 Ranked Colleges
16,359 Degrees Awarded
$3,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 310,601 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 16,359 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 261 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k)

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 396 students in 2019-2020.

South Texas College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $904 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Texas College.

Read full report on Education at South Texas College

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Regional Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Regional Technical College is a public institution located in Thomasville, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $-1,367 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southern Regional Technical College. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Read full report on Education at Southern Regional Technical College

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Austin Community College District is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 100 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $3,134 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Austin Community College District

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 261 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Borough of Manhattan Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 167 students in 2019-2020.

BMCC also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend BMCC is $4,405 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Borough of Manhattan Community College

#5

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#24 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 117 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

CNM also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $2,604 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full CNM Education Report

#6

Bronx Community College

Bronx, New York
#19 in overall quality

Bronx Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bronx, New York, this medium-sized public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

BCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend BCC is $3,550 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full BCC Education Report

#7

Middlesex County College

Edison, New Jersey
#1 in overall quality

Middlesex County College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Middlesex County College is located in Edison, New Jersey and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 92 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Middlesex County College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Middlesex County College is $5,292 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Middlesex County College

#9 in overall quality

Chemeketa Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chemeketa Community College is a public institution located in Salem, Oregon. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Chemeketa Community College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chemeketa Community College is $4,853 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at Chemeketa Community College

#12 in overall quality

Tarrant County College District came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tarrant County College is a large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 144 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College is $5,225 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Tarrant County College District

#10

Hostos Community College

Bronx, New York
#10 in overall quality

Hostos Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hostos is a medium-sized public school situated in Bronx, New York. It awarded 101 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Hostos has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,814 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hostos.

Full Hostos Community College Education Report

#11

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, Massachusetts
Top 15% in overall quality

Middlesex Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Middlesex Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bedford, Massachusetts that handed out 22 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Middlesex Community College is also in the top of our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Middlesex Community College is $4,010 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Middlesex Community College Education Report

Top 25% in overall quality

Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Steubenville, Ohio, and it awarded 171 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Gateway Community College is $2,845 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at Eastern Gateway Community College

#13

Chattahoochee Technical College

Marietta, Georgia

Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chattahoochee Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Marietta, Georgia. It awarded 27 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Chattahoochee Technical College is $384 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at Chattahoochee Technical College

#14

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Wesson, Mississippi
Top 25% in overall quality

Copiah-Lincoln Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wesson, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,707 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Read more about Education at Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Top 20% in overall quality

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this medium-sized public school awarded 43 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Cincinnati State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $3,756 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

Full Cincinnati State Education Report

#16

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, Georgia

Central Georgia Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Warner Robins, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Central Georgia Technical College is $1,017 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full CGTC Education Report

#16

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

With a ranking of #16, St Petersburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Clearwater, Florida, and it awarded 19 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SPC is $1,454 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at St Petersburg College

West Georgia Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Waco, Georgia, this medium-sized public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend West Georgia Technical College is $-76 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Read more about Education at West Georgia Technical College

#19

Atlanta Technical College

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Atlanta Area Tech is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Atlanta Area Tech is $-757 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

Read more about Education at Atlanta Area Tech

#20

Itawamba Community College

Fulton, Mississippi

Itawamba Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Itawamba Community College is located in Fulton, Mississippi and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 105 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,401 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Itawamba Community College.

Read more about Education at ICC

#21

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 67 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend FTCC is $4,126 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FTCC Education Report

#22

Essex County College

Newark, New Jersey
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Essex County College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Essex County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Newark, New Jersey. It awarded 63 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Essex did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Essex County College is $11,166 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Essex Education Report

#8 in overall quality

Delaware Technical Community College - Terry ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Delaware Tech is located in Dover, Delaware and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 156 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Delaware Tech also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Delaware Technical Community College - Terry is $8,212 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at Delaware Technical Community College - Terry

#24

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida

With a ranking of #24, Indian River State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school situated in Fort Pierce, Florida. It awarded 18 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Indian River State College is $1,402 for associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Indian River State College

#25

Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, New York
Top 15% in overall quality

Kingsborough Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. KCC is a public institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 51 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

KCC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Kingsborough Community College is $4,369 for Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full KCC Education Report

Rest of the Best 40 in Best Value Education Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 40 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan
#27

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas
#28

Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake City, Utah
#30

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#31

Tallahassee Community College

Tallahassee, Florida
#32

South Georgia Technical College

Americus, Georgia
#34

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#35

Leeward Community College

Pearl City, Hawaii
#36

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#37

Camden County College

Blackwood, New Jersey
#38

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida
#39

Durham Technical Community College

Durham, North Carolina
#40

Stanly Community College

Albemarle, North Carolina

Notes and References

References

  • 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%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Horadrim.

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