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Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

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2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

15 Colleges
$5,834 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,682 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree School for You

Liberal Arts General Studies is the most popular major in Iowa with 5,966 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 15 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for liberal arts students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for liberal arts majors pursuing a associate degree.

Top 10 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools

Our analysis found Northwest Iowa Community College to be the best value school for liberal arts general studies students who want to pursue a associate degree in Iowa. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Sheldon.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Northwest Iowa Community College are $6,540 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Northwest Iowa Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $14,875.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Northwest Iowa Community College is ranked #2 for overall quality for liberal arts in Iowa.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwest Iowa Community College Report

Our 2023 rankings named Eastern Iowa Community College District the best value school in Iowa for liberal arts general studies students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges are $4,396 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, liberal arts majors at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges accumulate an average of around $14,102 in student debt.

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Out of the 15 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. DMACC is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny.

DMACC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,220 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at DMACC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $14,279. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $64.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, DMACC is ranked #4 for overall quality for liberal arts in Iowa.

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The excellent associate degree programs at Indian Hills Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value liberal arts general studies schools in Iowa. Located in the town of Ottumwa, IHCC is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at IHCC are $4,560 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at IHCC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $14,181.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Indian Hills Community College Report

#5

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Cedar Rapids.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Kirkwood Community College are $5,308 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Kirkwood Community College carry an average student debtload of $15,374. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $59, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Kirkwood Community College Report

#6

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, IA

Ellsworth Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the distant town of Iowa Falls, Ellsworth is a public college with a small student population.

Ellsworth undergraduate students pay an average of $5,040 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Ellsworth take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,863. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $70.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Ellsworth Community College

#7

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, IA

Marshalltown Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Marshalltown Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Marshalltown.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Marshalltown Community College are $5,040 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Marshalltown Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,400.

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Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree liberal arts general studies programs. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Western Iowa Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,802 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, liberal arts graduates from Western Iowa Tech Community College carry an average student debtload of $14,579.

Full Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College Report

#9

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, IA

Southeastern Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Southeastern Community College are $6,090 a year. Liberal Arts majors at Southeastern Community College take out an average of $11,070 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Southeastern Community College also took the #5 spot in our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Associate Degree Schools in Iowa rankings.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College

#10

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa Western Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for liberal arts general studies students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Council Bluffs.

Iowa Western Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,330 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts majors at Iowa Western Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $15,727. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $97, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Western Community College

Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Colleges in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 8,280
Minnesota 6,264
Kansas 6,339
Nebraska 1,612
North Dakota 953
South Dakota 222

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 15 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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