by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking is part of that endeavor. 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:
Our analysis looked at 146 schools in the Far Western US Region to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $75-$110k 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 take this into account we include a school'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:
Golden West College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $75-$110k) school for associate degrees in the Far Western US Region for overall quality. Huntington Beach, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Golden West College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,532.
Out of the 146 associate degree schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwestern College landed the #2 spot on the list. SWC Chula Vista is a public institution located in Chula Vista, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southwestern College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,013.
The quality degree programs at Saddleback College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California.
Not only is Saddleback College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,222.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Honolulu Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. Honolulu CC is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Honolulu Community College has the honor of being ranked #1 in Hawaii for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,867.
Out of the 146 associate degree schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, College of the Canyons landed the #5 spot on the list. Santa Clarita, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is College of the Canyons a great value, but it is also ranked #28 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,913.
With a ranking of #6, Moreno Valley College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. Moreno Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Moreno Valley, California.
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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,919.
Pasadena City College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #7. Pasadena City College is a large public school situated in Pasadena, California.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,241.
Ventura College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. Ventura College is located in Ventura, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Ventura College a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,757.
Canada College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #9. Canada College is located in Redwood City, California and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Canada College is ranked #48 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $5,438.
With a ranking of #10, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. SRJC is a public institution located 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 $75-$110k per year is $10,173.
With a ranking of #11, Yuba College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Marysville, California.
Yuba College has the honor of being ranked #49 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,849.
With a ranking of #12, Clover Park Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. CPTC is located in Lakewood, Washington and has a small student population. It is a public school.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $10,832.
Foothill College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #13. Foothill College is a fairly large public school situated in Los Altos Hills, California.
Not only is Foothill College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,541.
Riverside City College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Riverside, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Riverside City College is ranked #23 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,280.
Mt. San Antonio College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. 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 $75-$110k per year is $8,349.
Grossmont College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in El Cajon, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Grossmont College is ranked #43 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,371.
Renton Technical College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. Renton Technical College is located in Renton, Washington and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Renton Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Washington for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,703.
Cerritos College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #18. Norwalk, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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 $75-$110k per year is $10,570.
Santa Ana College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Santa Ana, California, the school is a large public institution.
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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,195.
With a ranking of #20, Santa Monica College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Santa Monica, California, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is Santa Monica College a great value, but it is also ranked #45 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,474.
Fresno City College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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 $75-$110k per year is $9,615.
Orange Coast College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Costa Mesa, California.
Orange Coast College has the honor of being ranked #27 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,655.
Moorpark College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Moorpark, California.
Not only is Moorpark College a great value, but it is also ranked #57 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,399.
College of Southern Nevada did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #24. CSN is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada.
College of Southern Nevada has the honor of being ranked #1 in Nevada for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $10,820.
Sacramento City College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region list. This fairly large public school is located 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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,043.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $75-$110k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Far Western US Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Los Medanos College | Pittsburg, CA | Value Report |
| 27 | Truckee Meadows Community College | Reno, NV | Value Report |
| 28 | Portland Community College | Portland, OR | Value Report |
| 29 | West Valley College | Saratoga, CA | Value Report |
| 30 | MiraCosta College | Oceanside, CA | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.