by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. 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 $75-$110k) in California ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. 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 83 schools in California, we came up with our list of those that offered 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.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $75-$110k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. 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 college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination 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 2024 rankings named Golden West College the best value (income $75-$110k) school in California for students working on their associate degree. Huntington Beach, 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, Golden West College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,532.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list means Southwestern College is a great place for students working on their degree. SWC Chula Vista is a fairly large public school situated in Chula Vista, California.
Not only is Southwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $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 California. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school located in Mission Viejo, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saddleback College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,222.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list means College of the Canyons is a great place for students working on their degree. This fairly large public school is 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 $75-$110k per year is $6,913.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list means Moreno Valley College is a great place for students working on their degree. 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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,919.
Pasadena City College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking. This large public school is located in Pasadena, California.
Not only is Pasadena City College a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,241.
Ventura College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Ventura, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Ventura College has the honor of being ranked #44 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 $5,757.
Canada College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Canada College is located in Redwood City, California and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Canada College has the honor of being ranked #48 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 $5,438.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Santa Rosa, California.
Not only is Santa Rosa Junior College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,173.
With a ranking of #10, Yuba College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Yuba College is a public institution located in Marysville, California.
Not only is Yuba College a great value, but it is also ranked #49 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,849.
Foothill College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. 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 did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking, coming in at #12. 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 $75-$110k per year is $9,280.
With a ranking of #13, Mt. San Antonio College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Mt. SAC is located in Walnut, California and has a large student population. 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. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,349.
Grossmont College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking. Grossmont College is a fairly large public school situated in El Cajon, California.
Not only is Grossmont College a great value, but it is also ranked #43 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,371.
Cerritos College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Cerritos College is a fairly large public school situated 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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,570.
With a ranking of #16, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Santa Ana, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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.
Santa Monica College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking. Santa Monica College is a large public school located in Santa Monica, California.
Santa Monica College has the honor of being ranked #45 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 $7,474.
Fresno City College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking, coming in at #18. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. 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 $75-$110k per year is $9,615.
Orange Coast College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking, coming in at #19. Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Orange Coast College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,655.
With a ranking of #20, Moorpark College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Moorpark, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Moorpark College has the honor of being ranked #57 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 $6,399.
Sacramento City College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Sacramento City is a public institution located in Sacramento, California.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $10,043.
Los Medanos College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California list. Los Medanos is a public institution located in Pittsburg, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Los Medanos College is ranked #40 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,688.
West Valley College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking, coming in at #23. West Valley College is a public institution located in Saratoga, California.
Not only is West Valley College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $10,810.
MiraCosta College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking. MiraCosta College is a fairly large public school located in Oceanside, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, MiraCosta College is ranked #35 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,428.
Cypress College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in California ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large public school is located in Cypress, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cypress College is ranked #29 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,532.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.