2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Plains States Region
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
With 559,661 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts / sciences and humanities is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 the Plains States region, there were 31,703 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,800 and $15,275 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 27,020 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 94 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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. 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 / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Normandale Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 687 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
Normandale Community College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $12,620 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Normandale Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Louis Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 1,377 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Saint Louis Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Saint Louis Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Out of the 94 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Coon Rapids, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 639 students in 2019-2020.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,890 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus.
Full Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bismarck State College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Bismarck State College is a public institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 405 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BSC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BSC is $9,420 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at BSC
Out of the 94 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,299 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,076 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend DMACC.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at DMACC
Century College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 400 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Century College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Century College.
Full Century College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
With a ranking of #7, Inver Hills Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. IHCC is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 326 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
IHCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $11,486 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend IHCC.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at IHCC
Johnson County Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. JCCC is a fairly large school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 1,207 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
JCCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Johnson County Community College is $12,632 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Johnson County Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 314 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
St Cloud Technical and Community College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
North Hennepin Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 292 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Hennepin Community College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $10,284 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at North Hennepin Community College
Metropolitan Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 548 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Metropolitan Community College
With a ranking of #12, Northland Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 155 degrees to qualified associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northland Community and Technical College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northland Community and Technical College is $10,860 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Northland Community and Technical College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 1,147 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $7,066 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is located in Rochester, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 291 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rochester Community and Technical College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,088 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Rochester Community and Technical College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Rochester Community and Technical College
Kirkwood Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 730 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kirkwood Community College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $10,939 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Kirkwood Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
North Dakota State College of Science ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Wahpeton, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 101 students in 2019-2020.
North Dakota State College of Science also took the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,940 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend North Dakota State College of Science.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at North Dakota State College of Science
With a ranking of #17, Lake Superior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 282 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LSC, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior College is $13,503 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Lake Superior College
Hutchinson Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Hutchinson, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 572 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Hutchinson Community College is $7,922 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Full Hutchinson Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Central Lakes College - Brainerd did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. Central Lakes College is located in Brainerd, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 288 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Lakes College is $12,514 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Central Lakes College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Butler Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. El Dorado, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 600 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $13,895 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Butler Community College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Butler Community College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Fergus Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 282 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Community and Technical College is $10,818 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Full Minnesota State Community and Technical College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
With a ranking of #22, Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small school located in Sheldon, Iowa that handed out 67 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,125 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Northwest Iowa Community College
Columbia College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. Columbia College Missouri is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 660 associates’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia College Missouri also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $26,730 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Columbia College Missouri
Indian Hills Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Indian Hills Community College is a public institution located in Ottumwa, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 349 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Indian Hills Community College is $7,217 for plains states region associate degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at IHCC
Cowley County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Cowley County Community College is a public institution located in Arkansas City, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 320 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Cowley County Community College is $7,908 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cowley College
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Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
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Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students in the Plains States Region
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Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Plains States Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students in the Plains States Region
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 Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
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