It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Associate Degree Colleges in the Plains States Region ranking.
Our analysis looked at 124 schools in the Plains States Region 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.
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. A associate degree holder from a school in the Plains States Region makes an average starting salary of $44,910, but the students who attended schools in the top 22 of our list make an average of $47,761.
Starting Salary ( 41944 to 54318 )
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.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in the Plains States Region have accumulated an average of $11,263 in student debt.
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. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Our 2025 rankings named Ranken Technical College the best school in the Plains States Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 403 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Ranken Technical College make an average of $47,932 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,849.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in the Plains States Region list means Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a great place for students working on their degree. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit institution located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,328 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $52,986 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,532.
The excellent associate degree programs at St Catherine University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Plains States Region. St. Kate’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 245 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,592 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,482.
The excellent associate degree programs at Rasmussen University - North Dakota helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, the small private for-profit school awarded 210 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Rasmussen University - North Dakota make an average of $52,986 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,532 after getting their degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Bismarck State College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Plains States Region. This small public school is located in Bismarck, North Dakota, and it awarded 759 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from BSC is $61,332 during the early years of their career.
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 514 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from LATI make an average of $42,623 a year.
Kansas State University landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas State University is a fairly large public school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 20 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 315 students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from WSU Tech is $51,357 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Hennepin Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 533 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Hennepin Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $53,155 during the early years of their career.
National American University - Rapid City did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. National American University - Rapid City is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 54 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from National American University - Rapid City go into careers with an average salary of $43,279 during the early years of their career.
Rockhurst University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 29 students in 2021-2022.
Johnson County Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. JCCC is a fairly large public school situated in Overland Park, Kansas. It awarded 1,631 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from JCCC make an average of $37,140 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,051.
With a ranking of #13, Park University did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Parkville, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 156 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Park University go into careers with an average salary of $56,359 during the early years of their career.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 503 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Central Lakes College is $38,088 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large public school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 2,010 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from DMACC is $40,641 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,444 in student loans.
Columbia College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 600 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Columbia College Missouri make an average of $47,199 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,370.
North Dakota State College of Science landed the #17 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, the small public school awarded 501 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from North Dakota State College of Science make an average of $49,588 a year.
Southeast Technical College landed the #18 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Southeast Tech is a public institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 522 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,325 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, State Technical College of Missouri did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. STC is a small public school situated in Linn, Missouri. It awarded 615 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,340 during the early years of their career.
Century College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,188 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Century College make an average of $48,331 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,500 after getting their degree.
Iowa Central Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a small public school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 812 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,994 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $6,100 after getting their degree.
Flint Hills Technical College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Emporia, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 85 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Flint Hills Technical College make an average of $52,069 a year.
Normandale Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Bloomington, Minnesota that handed out 1,371 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Normandale Community College go into careers with an average salary of $40,669 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,171.
With a ranking of #24, Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 690 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Rochester Community and Technical College is $52,750 during the early years of their career.
Hesston College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hesston is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hesston, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 74 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%.
