by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Texas Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 58 colleges and universities across Texas to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
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. A associate degree holder from a school in Texas makes an average starting salary of $41,051, but the students who attended schools in the top 24 of our list make an average of $42,745.
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 Texas take out an average of $12,310. 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.
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.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best schools ranking methodology page.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Texas State Technical College tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Texas for overall quality. Texas State Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 1,443 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from TSTC go into careers with an average salary of $46,107 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 58 associate degree schools in Texas that were part of this year’s ranking, Tarrant County College District landed the #2 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 5,819 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Tarrant County College make an average of $36,245 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,154.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in Texas list means El Centro College is a great place for students working on their degree. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 7,626 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from El Centro College go into careers with an average salary of $38,998 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,898 after getting their degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Collin County Community College District helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Texas. This large public school is located in McKinney, Texas, and it awarded 4,361 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Collin County Community College District go into careers with an average salary of $38,039 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,501 in student loans.
Read full report on Collin County Community College District
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #5 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,702 students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from South Texas College is $37,312 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $6,466 after getting their degree.
Houston Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #6. This large public school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 5,387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Houston Community College go into careers with an average salary of $35,428 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,004.
Austin Community College District ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Located in Austin, Texas, the large public school awarded 4,621 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Austin Community College District is $46,753 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,705 in student loans.
Lone Star College System did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #8. The Woodlands, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 8,774 students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from North Harris Montgomery is $36,564 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,932.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Waxahachie, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 212 students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Southwestern Assemblies of God University make an average of $33,649 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $22,243 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #10, Lamar Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. This medium-sized public school is located in Beaumont, Texas, and it awarded 586 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Lamar Institute of Technology make an average of $46,722 per year during the early years of their career.
McLennan Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 1,278 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MCC is $37,791 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,037 after getting their degree.
Lee College landed the #12 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Lee College is a medium-sized public school situated in Baytown, Texas. It awarded 1,267 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $83,870 during the early years of their career.
Del Mar College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. DMC is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,324 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from DMC go into careers with an average salary of $48,268 during the early years of their career.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Pasadena, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 5,788 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,248 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,036.
Central Texas College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Central Texas College is a public institution located in Killeen, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,518 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Central Texas College is $44,705 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,992 in student loans.
Northwest Vista College landed the #16 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. This fairly large public school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 2,597 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Northwest Vista College is $30,221 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Brazosport College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. BC is a public institution located in Lake Jackson, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 456 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from BC make an average of $26,792 a year.
Cisco College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Cisco College is a small public school situated in Cisco, Texas. It awarded 405 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Cisco College make an average of $17,820 per year during the early years of their career.
Grayson College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Denison, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 724 students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Grayson College is $53,795 during the early years of their career.
Victoria College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Located in Victoria, Texas, the small public school awarded 347 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $60,610 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #21, Amarillo College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Amarillo, Texas. It awarded 1,411 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,634 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Weatherford College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Weatherford College is a medium-sized public school situated in Weatherford, Texas. It awarded 741 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Weatherford College go into careers with an average salary of $51,034 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,150 in student loans.
Wayland Baptist University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Plainview, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 102 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Tyler Junior College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking, coming in at #24. Tyler Junior College is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,723 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Tyler Junior College is $46,484 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $6,890 after getting their degree.
Trinity Valley Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Athens, Texas, and it awarded 939 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from TVCC is $37,803 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $5,166 after getting their degree.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.