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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa

16 Ranked Colleges
5,668 Degrees Awarded
$23,706 Avg Salary
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 6,129 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,768 and $15,875 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,668 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,684 and $18,179 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

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

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 Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 16 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Des Moines Area Community College is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 1,299 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

DMACC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,468 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend DMACC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

#2

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Marshalltown Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k. Marshalltown Community College is a public institution located in Marshalltown, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 152 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marshalltown Community College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,888 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Marshalltown Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Marshalltown Community College

#3

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k. Southeastern Community College is a small public school situated in West Burlington, Iowa. It awarded 216 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeastern Community College is $8,542 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Southeastern Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Iowa Area Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Mason City, Iowa, and it awarded 405 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, North Iowa Area Community College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Iowa Area Community College is $8,707 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#5

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Kirkwood Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this fairly large public school awarded 730 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $11,535 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kirkwood Community College

Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Calmar, Iowa, this small public school handed out 139 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NICC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NICC is $11,309 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full NICC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Indian Hills Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indian Hills Community College is a small public school situated in Ottumwa, Iowa. It awarded 349 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, IHCC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $8,293 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indian Hills Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Indian Hills Community College

Iowa Central Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this small public school awarded 454 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k list, Iowa Central Community College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $11,400 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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 arts degrees to qualified students.

Northwest Iowa Community College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $12,614 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwest Iowa Community College

#10

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 490 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $12,033 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Western Community College

With a ranking of #11, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 165 associates’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Western Iowa Tech Community College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,939 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.

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

Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 504 diplomas to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $11,801 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Eastern Iowa Community College District.

Full Eastern Iowa Community College District Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#13

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

Hawkeye Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 297 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Hawkeye Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Hawkeye Community College is $11,773 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Hawkeye Community College

#14

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa

With a ranking of #14, Ellsworth Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Iowa Falls, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

Ellsworth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Ellsworth is $11,407 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ellsworth

Southwestern Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Creston, Iowa, and it awarded 120 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SWCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend SWCC is $8,259 for Iowa Associate Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Southwestern Community College

#16

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa

William Penn University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. William Penn University is a small school located in Oskaloosa, Iowa that handed out 1 associates’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

William Penn University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $21,361 for iowa associate degree liberal arts students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend William Penn University.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at William Penn 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.

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