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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

23 Ranked Colleges
2,044 Degrees Awarded
$13,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 133,583 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general studies is the 5th most popular major in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,869 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 2,044 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The general studies 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 General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 23 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 119 students in 2019-2020.

DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $12,709 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

#2

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Marshalltown Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Marshalltown, Iowa, and it awarded 6 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $10,608 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Marshalltown Community College General Studies Report

#3

Crowder College

Neosho, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Crowder College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Neosho, Missouri, and it awarded 294 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Crowder College also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Crowder College is $7,673 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about General Studies at Crowder College

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa Central Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Iowa Central Community College is a small public school situated in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It awarded 19 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,338 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Full Iowa Central Community College General Studies Report

#5

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. OTC is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

OTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,632 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Ozarks Technical Community College.

Full Ozarks Technical Community College General Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. NICC is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 11 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NICC also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeast Iowa Community College is $13,617 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full NICC General Studies Report

#7

Labette Community College

Parsons, Kansas
#18 in overall quality

Labette Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. Parsons, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

Labette Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,082 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Labette Community College.

Read full report on General Studies at Labette Community College

#8

Independence Community College

Independence, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Independence Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Independence Community College is a small public school situated in Independence, Kansas. It awarded 64 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Independence Community College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Independence Community College is $9,048 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on General Studies at Independence Community College

#13 in overall quality

Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #9. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $10,322 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#10

Barton County Community College

Great Bend, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Barton County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. Barton Community College is a public institution located in Great Bend, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 66 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k list, Barton Community College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Barton Community College is $10,919 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on General Studies at Barton County Community College

#11

East Central College

Union, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

East Central College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. East Central College is a small school located in Union, Missouri that handed out 271 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k list, East Central College has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,517 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend East Central College.

Full East Central College General Studies Report

#12

North Central Missouri College

Trenton, Missouri
#20 in overall quality

North Central Missouri College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This small school is located in Trenton, Missouri, and it awarded 6 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NCMC also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,056 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend NCMC.

Full North Central Missouri College General Studies Report

#13

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

Iowa Western Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 51 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Western Community College is $14,625 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Iowa Western Community College General Studies Report

#14

Mineral Area College

Park Hills, Missouri
#16 in overall quality

Mineral Area College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #14. Mineral Area College is a public institution located in Park Hills, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MAC also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,927 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend MAC.

Read full report on General Studies at Mineral Area College

#21 in overall quality

Missouri State University - West Plains came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Missouri State University - West Plains is a small school located in West Plains, Missouri that handed out 143 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State West Plains also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $10,253 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Missouri State University - West Plains.

Full Missouri State West Plains General Studies Report

#16

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#15 in overall quality

Northeast Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Norfolk, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeast, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,856 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Northeast.

Read more about General Studies at Northeast

#17

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#3 in overall quality

South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #17. South Dakota State University is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

South Dakota State also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $20,754 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Read more about General Studies at South Dakota State

#18

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#4 in overall quality

University of South Dakota came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of South Dakota is a public institution located in Vermillion, South Dakota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USD also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $20,175 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at University of South Dakota

#19

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota
#22 in overall quality

Mayville State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #19. Mayville State University is located in Mayville, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Mayville State University also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $14,684 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Mayville State University.

Read full report on General Studies at Mayville State University

#20

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

Columbia College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s general studies degrees to 572 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $26,327 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Columbia College.

Read more about General Studies at Columbia College

#21

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#11 in overall quality

College of Saint Mary ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. College of Saint Mary is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Saint Mary also made our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for College of Saint Mary is $17,359 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about General Studies at Saint Mary

#22

Hesston College

Hesston, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Hesston College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Hesston, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Hesston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $21,682 for plains states region associate degree general studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Hesston College.

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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Studies at Hesston

#23 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #23. Drury University - CCPS is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 19 associates’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Drury University - CCPS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is $16,798 for Plains States Region Associate Degree General Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on General Studies at Drury University - CCPS

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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.

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