by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. 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 Minnesota ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. This list is proof that you shouldn't avoid normally high-priced schools, since the actual price may be very affordable if you qualify for financial aid.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 35 schools in Minnesota, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Associate Degree programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Hennepin Technical College to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for associate degrees in Minnesota in this year’s ranking. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Hennepin Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,641.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, St Cloud Technical and Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,663.
Out of the 35 associate degree schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Dakota County Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dakota County Technical College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,074.
The quality degree programs at Century College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Century College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,416.
The quality degree programs at Normandale Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Not only is Normandale Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,763.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota State Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,443.
Read full value report on Minnesota State Community and Technical College
North Hennepin Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is North Hennepin Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,802.
Inver Hills Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #8. IHCC is a small public school situated in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
Inver Hills Community College has the honor of being ranked #20 in Minnesota 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 $8,680.
Ridgewater College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in Willmar, Minnesota.
Ridgewater College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Minnesota 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 $9,472.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Anoka-Ramsey Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,407.
Saint Paul College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Saint Paul College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Minnesota 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 $10,853.
Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #12. This small public school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Alexandria Technical & Community College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Minnesota 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 $10,825.
Anoka Technical College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Anoka Technical College is a public institution located in Anoka, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Anoka Technical College is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,796.
South Central College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #14. Located in North Mankato, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
South Central College has the honor of being ranked #25 in Minnesota 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 $8,469.
St Catherine University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is St Catherine University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $17,228.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Central Lakes College is a small public school situated in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Not only is Central Lakes College - Brainerd a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,668.
With a ranking of #17, Northwest Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Northwest Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #28 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,037.
Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Rochester, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Rochester Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Minnesota 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 $11,936.
Learn More About Value at Rochester Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #19, Minnesota West Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Granite Falls, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota West Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,471.
Learn More About Value at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #19 in Minnesota 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 $11,709.
Read full value report on Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Northland Community and Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Northland Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
Not only is Northland Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,657.
Learn More About Value at Northland Community and Technical College
Winona State University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Winona State University is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,380.
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #23. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Minnesota State University - Mankato has the honor of being ranked #22 in Minnesota 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 $11,807.
Learn More About Value at Minnesota State University - Mankato
Lake Superior College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Lake Superior College is a small public school located in Duluth, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lake Superior College is ranked #23 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,916.
With a ranking of #25, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Located in Cloquet, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College has the honor of being ranked #31 in Minnesota 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 $9,174.
Read full value report on Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.