2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 156 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Brandman University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Far Western US Region .
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $12,480 to cover tuition and fees at Brandman. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,359 in student loans.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Brandman. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
The excellent associate degree programs at National University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Far Western US Region .
Associate Degree recipients from National University accumulate an average of $16,212 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
National University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 39% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Santa Rosa Junior College is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
Students from California who attend SRJC full time pay an average of $1,328 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,952. On average, associate degree students take out $12,716 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SRJC. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Canada College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $1,362 in tuition and fees if they attend Canada College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,006. On average, associate degree students take out $13,439 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Foothill College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Foothill College is $1,565. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,790. Associate Degree recipients from Foothill College accumulate an average of $10,391 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Foothill College. In 2019-2020 about 83% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #7, Bellevue College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $4,057 in tuition and fees if they attend BC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,594. Associate Degree recipients from BC accumulate an average of $16,785 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at BC. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Alaska Anchorage came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
Students from Alaska who attend UAA full time pay an average of $8,750 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $25,228. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,255 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UAA does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Pacific Union College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at PUC is $32,103. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from PUC accumulate an average of $28,513 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at PUC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #10, Oregon Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Oregon who attend OIT full time pay an average of $11,732 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $32,625. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,864 in student loans.
OIT does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 31% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #11, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SBCC is $1,232. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,912. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,459 in student loans.
Online courses are available at SBCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Merced College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Merced Community College District. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,444. Associate Degree recipients from Merced Community College District accumulate an average of $10,503 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Merced Community College District. In fact, around 97% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Gavilan College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,166 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Gavilan College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,214. On average, associate degree students take out $13,308 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Gavilan College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Saddleback College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
Students from California who attend Saddleback College full time pay an average of $1,332 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,292.
Saddleback College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #15, Yuba College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $1,128 in tuition and fees if they attend Yuba College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,488. On average, associate degree students take out $9,195 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Yuba College. In 2019-2020 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Los Angeles Valley College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
Students from California who attend LAVC full time pay an average of $1,238 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,012. Associate Degree recipients from LAVC accumulate an average of $10,856 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LAVC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, Asher College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
On average, associate degree students take out $18,907 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Asher College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #18, Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average tuition and fees at MSMU is $45,388. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from MSMU accumulate an average of $24,268 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
MSMU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, Oregon Coast Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Oregon who attend Oregon Coast Community College full time pay an average of $5,148 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,072. Associate Degree recipients from Oregon Coast Community College accumulate an average of $26,642 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Oregon Coast Community College. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Columbia Basin College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
Students from Washington who attend CBC full time pay an average of $5,959 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,735. On average, associate degree students take out $16,312 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that CBC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
MTI College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Associate Degree recipients from MTI College accumulate an average of $14,191 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MTI College. In fact, around 9% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Chaffey College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $1,184 in tuition and fees if they attend Chaffey College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,960. On average, associate degree students take out $9,680 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Chaffey College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list.
Warner Pacific College ADP is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Read full report on Warner Pacific College Adult Degree Program
Highline College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Highline is $4,344. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,813. Associate Degree recipients from Highline accumulate an average of $14,827 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Highline. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Shoreline Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
Full-time students from Washington pay an average of $4,166 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Shoreline Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,013. Associate Degree recipients from Shoreline Community College accumulate an average of $19,378 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Shoreline Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 27 | Napa Valley College | Napa, CA |
| 28 | Portland Community College | Portland, OR |
| 29 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK |
| 30 | Centralia College | Centralia, WA |
| 31 | Mendocino College | Ukiah, CA |
| 32 | Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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