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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

19 Ranked Colleges
1,029 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 Plains States region, there were 32,592 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,310 and $28,608 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,029 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 19 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 19 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Highland Community College

Highland, Kansas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Highland Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Highland Community College is a small public school situated in Highland, Kansas. It awarded 48 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Highland Community College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Highland Community College is $7,478 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Highland Community College

#2

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeast Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Norfolk, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 59 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Northeast also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $6,473 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northeast Community College.

Read full report on Education at Northeast Community College

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St Cloud Technical and Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College is $6,970 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at St Cloud Technical and Community College

#4

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. MSU is a small public school situated in Minot, North Dakota. It awarded 2 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU is $8,187 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Minot State University Education Report

#5

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Ozarks Technical Community College is a fairly large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 98 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

OTC also took the #14 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ozarks Technical Community College is $7,057 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Ozarks Technical Community College

#6

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Century College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Century College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $9,441 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Century College.

Full Century College Education Report

#16 in overall quality

Moberly Area Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Moberly, Missouri, this small public school handed out 28 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

MACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $6,741 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Moberly Area Community College.

Read more about Education at MACC

#8

Three Rivers College

Poplar Bluff, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Three Rivers College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Three Rivers College is a small public school situated in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. It awarded 66 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Three Rivers College also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $8,117 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Three Rivers College.

Read more about Education at Three Rivers College

#9

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Northland Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It awarded 11 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Northland Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northland Community and Technical College is $9,246 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northland Community and Technical College Education Report

#10

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Normandale Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Normandale Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Normandale Community College is $11,248 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Normandale Community College Education Report

#11

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, College of Saint Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 1 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Mary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend College of Saint Mary is $8,336 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 9 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 Saint Mary

#12

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s education degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Saint Paul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,288 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

Read more about Education at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#12

Butler Community College

El Dorado, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Butler Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in El Dorado, Kansas, this medium-sized public school awarded 57 diplomas to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

Butler CC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,793 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Butler CC.

Read more about Education at Butler CC

#14

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit institution located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 42 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $17,395 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Rasmussen University - Minnesota Education Report

#6 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - North Dakota landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s education degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - North Dakota, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - North Dakota is $16,565 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Rasmussen University - North Dakota

#16

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Southwest Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Southwest Baptist University is a small school located in Bolivar, Missouri that handed out 3 associates’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwest Baptist University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Baptist University is $17,162 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Southwest Baptist University

#17

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Dordt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Dordt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $22,177 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dordt University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt University Education Report

#18 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Kansas came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Topeka, Kansas, this small private for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified associates’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - Kansas, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - Kansas is $17,276 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Rasmussen University - Kansas Education Report

#19 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 associates’s education degrees to qualified students.

Drury University - CCPS also made our “Best Education Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $14,884 for plains states region associate degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies.

Full Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies Education Report

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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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