Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

15 Ranked Colleges
5,450 Degrees Awarded
$7,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 365,980 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across Iowa, there were 5,869 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,450 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,684 and $18,179 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 15 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

#1

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Southeastern Community College is a small school located in West Burlington, Iowa that handed out 216 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $4,925 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Southeastern Community College

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Des Moines Area Community College is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 1,180 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

DMACC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,776 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Des Moines Area Community College.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Liberal Arts Report

#3

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Kirkwood Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 730 students in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $8,067 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Kirkwood Community College

#4

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Marshalltown Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 146 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marshalltown Community College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $5,073 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Marshalltown Community College Liberal Arts Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Iowa Area Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. North Iowa Area Community College is a small school located in Mason City, Iowa that handed out 405 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend North Iowa Area Community College is $6,551 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Liberal Arts Report

#8 in overall quality

Indian Hills Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. IHCC is a small public school situated in Ottumwa, Iowa. It awarded 349 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

IHCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Indian Hills Community College is $5,644 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at IHCC

#12 in overall quality

Northeast Iowa Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. NICC is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 128 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NICC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $7,987 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NICC.

Read more about Liberal Arts at NICC

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Northwest Iowa Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Iowa Community College is $9,985 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Northwest Iowa Community College

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa Central Community College is a small school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 435 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa Central Community College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,979 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Full Iowa Central Community College Liberal Arts Report

#9 in overall quality

Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 504 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Iowa Community College District is $8,406 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Liberal Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 158 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Western Iowa Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $5,665 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#12

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Iowa Western Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it awarded 439 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $9,341 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts Report

#13

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Ellsworth Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ellsworth is located in Iowa Falls, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 associates’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ellsworth, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ellsworth is $8,576 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Ellsworth

#14

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Hawkeye Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized school located in Waterloo, Iowa that handed out 297 associates’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Hawkeye Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Hawkeye Community College is $9,084 for iowa associate degree liberal studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Hawkeye Community College

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Southwestern Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Creston, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal studies degrees to 120 students in 2019-2020.

SWCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $6,914 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwestern Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Southwestern Community College

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.

Featured Liberal Arts Schools

Find Schools Near You