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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

15 Ranked Colleges
1,771 Degrees Awarded
$9,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 38,536 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,219 and $35,533 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,771 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,689 and $18,419 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 15 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chemeketa Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Salem, Oregon, and it awarded 17 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Chemeketa Community College also took the #1 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chemeketa Community College is $4,853 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Chemeketa Community College Education Report

#2

Leeward Community College

Pearl City, Hawaii
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Leeward Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Leeward CC is a medium-sized public school situated in Pearl City, Hawaii. It awarded 59 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Leeward CC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Leeward CC is $6,511 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Leeward Community College Education Report

#3

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spokane Falls Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Spokane Falls Community College is a small school located in Spokane, Washington that handed out 41 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Spokane Falls Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Spokane Falls Community College is $4,799 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Spokane Falls Community College Education Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Fairbanks, Alaska, and it awarded 12 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UAF also took the #6 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,133 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Read full report on Education at University of Alaska Fairbanks

#5

Olympic College

Bremerton, Washington
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Olympic College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Bremerton, Washington, and it awarded 5 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OC is $6,683 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Olympic College

#6

Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom

Lakewood, Washington
#7 in overall quality

Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lakewood, Washington, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $7,225 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom.

Read more about Education at Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom

#10 in overall quality

South Puget Sound Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Puget Sound Community College is located in Olympia, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

South Puget Sound Community College also took the #10 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Puget Sound Community College is $6,372 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Education at South Puget Sound Community College

#8

Yakima Valley College

Yakima, Washington
#11 in overall quality

Yakima Valley College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. YVC is a public institution located in Yakima, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, YVC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Yakima Valley College is $6,900 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full YVC Education Report

#9

Portland Community College

Portland, Oregon
#8 in overall quality

Portland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Portland Community College is a public institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Portland Community College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Portland Community College is $7,669 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Portland Community College

#10

Heritage University

Toppenish, Washington
#12 in overall quality

Heritage University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Heritage University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Toppenish, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Heritage University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Heritage University is $9,633 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Heritage University Education Report

#11

Lower Columbia College

Longview, Washington
#15 in overall quality

Lower Columbia College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lower Columbia College is a small public school situated in Longview, Washington. It awarded 6 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

LCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $5,856 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LCC.

Read more about Education at LCC

#13 in overall quality

Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Stockton, California, and it awarded 8 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Humphreys University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $9,334 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Humphreys University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Education at Humphreys University

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Linn-Benton Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Albany, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s education degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

LBCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Linn-Benton Community College is $7,320 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Education at Linn-Benton Community College

#3 in overall quality

The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UAGC is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 287 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, UAGC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $20,283 for far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Arizona Global Campus.

Read full report on Education at The University of Arizona Global Campus

#15

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mount Saint Mary’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region associate degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, MSMU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $27,107 for Far Western US Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Education at Mount Saint Mary’s University

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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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