by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Far Western US Region Schools For The Money For Those Making $0-$30k for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 158 schools in the Far Western US Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Golden West College to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for associate degrees in the Far Western US Region in this year’s ranking. Located in Huntington Beach, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Golden West College has the honor of being ranked #2 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,213.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwestern College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. SWC Chula Vista is a public institution located in Chula Vista, California.
Not only is Southwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,657.
The quality degree programs at Moreno Valley College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region. Located in Moreno Valley, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Moreno Valley College is ranked #32 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $551.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pasadena City College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pasadena City College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,960.
Out of the 158 associate degree schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, West Valley College landed the #5 spot on the list. West Valley College is a public institution located in Saratoga, California.
West Valley College has the honor of being ranked #21 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,967.
Ventura College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Ventura, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Ventura College has the honor of being ranked #44 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Saddleback College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Mission Viejo, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Saddleback College has the honor of being ranked #6 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,496.
Clover Park Technical College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. This small public school is located in Lakewood, Washington.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Clover Park Technical College is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Washington. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,734.
With a ranking of #9, Honolulu Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Honolulu CC is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Honolulu Community College is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Hawaii. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,303.
College of the Canyons did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. College of the Canyons is a fairly large public school located in Santa Clarita, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of the Canyons is ranked #28 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,541.
Moorpark College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #11. Moorpark College is located in Moorpark, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Moorpark College a great value, but it is also ranked #57 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $14.
Mt. San Antonio College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Walnut, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Mt. San Antonio College has the honor of being ranked #30 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,703.
Orange Coast College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. Orange Coast College is a fairly large public school located in Costa Mesa, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Orange Coast College is ranked #27 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,320.
Fresno City College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. Fresno City College is located in Fresno, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fresno City College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,512.
Riverside City College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. Riverside City College is a fairly large public school situated in Riverside, California.
Riverside City College has the honor of being ranked #23 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,985.
Foothill College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. Los Altos Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Foothill College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,458.
With a ranking of #17, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. SAC is a public institution located in Santa Ana, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Santa Ana College is ranked #39 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,664.
Cerritos College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cerritos College is a public institution located in Norwalk, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cerritos College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,003.
MiraCosta College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is MiraCosta College a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,215.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. SRJC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California.
Santa Rosa Junior College has the honor of being ranked #8 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,170.
With a ranking of #21, Grossmont College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Grossmont College is a public institution located in El Cajon, California.
Grossmont College has the honor of being ranked #43 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,715.
Sacramento City College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Sacramento City is a fairly large public school situated in Sacramento, California.
Not only is Sacramento City College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,481.
Santa Monica College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. SMC is a large public school situated in Santa Monica, California.
Not only is Santa Monica College a great value, but it is also ranked #45 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,889.
Bellingham Technical College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region list. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is located in Bellingham, Washington and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Bellingham Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Washington for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,799.
Coastline Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #25. Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, California and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Coastline Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,799.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $0-$30k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | Value Report |
| 27 | Canada College | Redwood City, CA | Value Report |
| 28 | Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | Value Report |
| 29 | Yuba College | Marysville, CA | Value Report |
| 30 | College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | Value Report |
| 31 | Citrus College | Glendora, CA | Value Report |
| 32 | Cypress College | Cypress, CA | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.