With 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 college degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top New England Region Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
We analyzed 51 colleges and universities across the New England Region to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. Recent students who earned a associate degree in the New England Region entered the job market making an average of $45,084 while those in the top 18 schools on our list made an average of $48,311.
Starting Salary ( 33375 to 58544 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in the New England Region take out an average of $17,030.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region
Johnson & Wales University - Providence tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in the New England Region for overall quality. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 377 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $27,514 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $29,179 in student loans.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in the New England Region list means Southern New Hampshire University is a great place for students working on their degree. SNHU is located in Manchester, New Hampshire and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,321 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from SNHU is $44,409 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $7,290 after getting their degree.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in the New England Region list means Sacred Heart University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 127 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Sacred Heart make an average of $79,921 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $15,631.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Roger Williams University. It ranked #4 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. RWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bristol, Rhode Island. The school has a small population, and it awarded 62 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in the New England Region list means University of Connecticut is a great place for students working on their degree. UCONN is located in Storrs, Connecticut and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 24 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Capital Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Capital Community College is a large public school located in Hartford, Connecticut that handed out 259 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Capital Community College make an average of $48,648 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $14,636 after getting their degree.
University of New Haven came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. University of New Haven is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in West Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 43 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $49,629.
Rivier University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Located in Nashua, New Hampshire, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 116 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,499 during the early years of their career.
Vermont Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Vermont Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Randolph, Vermont. It awarded 275 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Vermont Tech is $64,935 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,000 after getting their degree.
North Shore Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. North Shore Community College is a small public school situated in Danvers, Massachusetts. It awarded 734 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from North Shore Community College make an average of $45,003 a year.
Quinsigamond Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Quinsigamond Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. It awarded 898 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Quinsigamond Community College is $49,973 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,722.
With a ranking of #12, New England Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. New England Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island that handed out 537 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from New England Tech is $43,925 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $30,691 after getting their degree.
Community College of Rhode Island landed the #13 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. CCRI is a public institution located in Warwick, Rhode Island. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,926 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from CCRI is $39,947 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,645.
River Valley Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #14. NH Community Technical College - Claremont is a small public school situated in Claremont, New Hampshire. It awarded 121 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from NH Community Technical College - Claremont make an average of $58,253 a year.
Roxbury Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Roxbury Community College is a public institution located in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 133 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,032 during the early years of their career.
Bunker Hill Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized public school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,125 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from BHCC is $46,917 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,854 in student loans.
Charter Oak State College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Charter Oak State College is located in New Britain, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 79 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
With a ranking of #18, Champlain College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Champlain is a private not-for-profit institution located in Burlington, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Bristol Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region ranking. Bristol is located in Fall River, Massachusetts and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 904 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,953 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,750 in student loans.
Middlesex Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Middlesex Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Bedford, Massachusetts that handed out 727 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Middlesex Community College make an average of $42,038 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,098 after getting their degree.
University of Hartford ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in West Hartford, Connecticut, and it awarded 69 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $51,681.
With a ranking of #22, Post University did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. Located in Waterbury, Connecticut, the large private for-profit school handed out 556 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Post University is $31,866 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, Springfield Technical Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. This small public school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 719 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from STCC make an average of $43,410 a year.
NHTI-Concord’s Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. NHTI is located in Concord, New Hampshire and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 519 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from NHTI go into careers with an average salary of $50,354 during the early years of their career.
University of Bridgeport ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and it awarded 42 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
