by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 91 schools in California to determine which ones have 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. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $0-$30k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid 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 account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on 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 California in this year’s ranking. Golden West College is a fairly large public school situated in Huntington Beach, California.
Not only is Golden West College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,213.
Out of the 91 associate degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwestern College landed the #2 spot on the list. SWC Chula Vista is located in Chula Vista, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moreno Valley College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Moreno Valley, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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.
Out of the 91 associate degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Pasadena City College landed the #4 spot on the list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Pasadena City College has the honor of being ranked #10 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 $2,960.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list means West Valley College is a great place for students working on their degree. West Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated 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.
With a ranking of #6, Ventura College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Ventura, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ventura College is ranked #44 for quality in the state of California.
With a ranking of #7, Saddleback College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Mission Viejo, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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.
College of the Canyons came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Santa Clarita, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
College of the Canyons has the honor of being ranked #28 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 $2,541.
Moorpark College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #9. Moorpark College is a fairly large public school located in Moorpark, California.
Moorpark College has the honor of being ranked #57 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 $14.
Mt. San Antonio College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Mt. SAC is located in Walnut, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Mt. San Antonio College a great value, but it is also ranked #30 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,703.
With a ranking of #11, Orange Coast College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Located in Costa Mesa, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
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 did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #12. This large public school is located in Fresno, California.
Fresno City College has the honor of being ranked #25 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 $3,512.
Riverside City College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Riverside City College is located in Riverside, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Riverside City College a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,985.
Foothill College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. 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 #15, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. SAC is a public institution located in Santa Ana, California.
Santa Ana College has the honor of being ranked #39 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 $2,664.
Cerritos College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Cerritos College is a fairly large public school located in Norwalk, California.
Cerritos College has the honor of being ranked #12 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 $5,003.
MiraCosta College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #17. MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, California.
Not only is MiraCosta College a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,215.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Located in Santa Rosa, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Santa Rosa Junior College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,170.
Grossmont College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. El Cajon, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Grossmont College is ranked #43 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,715.
Sacramento City College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Sacramento City is located in Sacramento, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Sacramento City College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,481.
Santa Monica College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. SMC is a large public school situated in Santa Monica, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Santa Monica College is ranked #45 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,889.
With a ranking of #22, Coastline Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Located in Fountain Valley, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Coastline Community College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,799.
Imperial Valley College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #23. Imperial Valley College is a medium-sized public school located in Imperial, California.
Not only is Imperial Valley College a great value, but it is also ranked #73 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $589.
Canada College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Redwood City, California, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Canada College a great value, but it is also ranked #48 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,726.
Los Medanos College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Los Medanos is located in Pittsburg, California and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Los Medanos College a great value, but it is also ranked #40 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,725.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $0-$30k) Nationwide >
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.