by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Plains States Region Schools For The Money For Those Making Over $110k for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
In This Year's Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 132 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. 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 Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes over $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. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality 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.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
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 2024 rankings named St Charles Community College the best value (income over $110k) school in the Plains States Region for students working on their associate degree. SCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Cottleville, Missouri.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, St Charles Community College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Missouri. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,852.
Out of the 132 associate degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Metropolitan Community College has the honor of being ranked #1 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,832.
Out of the 132 associate degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Hennepin Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
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 over $110k per year is $16,025.
The quality degree programs at Ranken Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region. Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Not only is Ranken Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Missouri for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $19,715.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list means Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Missouri for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $10,510.
Learn More About Value at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Garden City Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Garden City Community College is a public institution located in Garden City, Kansas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Garden City Community College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Kansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $9,890.
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Des Moines Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,714.
Bismarck State College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Bismarck State College is a small public school located in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Not only is Bismarck State College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in North Dakota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $13,348.
With a ranking of #9, St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. This small public school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.
St Cloud Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,471.
Learn More About Value at St Cloud Technical and Community College
Barton County Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Great Bend, Kansas, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Barton County Community College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Kansas. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,942.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. DCTC is a small public school situated in Rosemount, Minnesota.
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 over $110k per year is $15,376.
Century College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Century College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $14,158.
Northwest Kansas Technical College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. NWKTC is located in Goodland, Kansas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Northwest Kansas Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Kansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $12,514.
Read full value report on Northwest Kansas Technical College
With a ranking of #14, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Joplin, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Missouri Southern State University has the honor of being ranked #9 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,629.
Read full value report on Missouri Southern State University
Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lake Area Technical Institute is ranked #2 for quality in the state of South Dakota. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,876.
Salina Area Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Salina Area Technical College is a small public school located in Salina, Kansas.
Salina Area Technical College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Kansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,779.
State Fair Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. State Fair Community College is located in Sedalia, Missouri and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, State Fair Community College is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Missouri. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,542.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology has the honor of being ranked #4 in Kansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,702.
Learn More About Value at Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Park University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri.
Not only is Park University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Missouri for overall quality. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $18,248.
Normandale Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Normandale Community College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $15,691.
Cowley County Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Arkansas City, Kansas, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cowley County Community College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Kansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $9,799.
With a ranking of #22, Southeast Community College Area did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Community College is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southeast Community College Area is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Nebraska. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,881.
Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Calmar, Iowa.
Not only is Northeast Iowa Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes over $110k per year is $10,279.
With a ranking of #24, St Catherine University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
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 over $110k per year is $21,773.
Mitchell Technical College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Mitchell, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Mitchell Technical College has the honor of being ranked #3 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make over $110k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,719.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income Over $110k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | Value Report |
| 27 | Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.