2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in California
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. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 84 schools in California 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 California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named National University the best school in California for students working on their associate degree.
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 #2 on this year’s list means Santa Rosa Junior College is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $1,328 in tuition and fees if they attend SRJC full time. 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.
One thing to take note of is that SRJC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Canada College is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,362 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Canada College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,006. On average, associate degree students take out $13,439 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Foothill College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in California list.
Students from California who attend Foothill College full time pay an average of $1,565 in tuition and fees. 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.
Online courses are available at Foothill College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 83% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 84 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Pacific Union College landed the # 5 spot on the list.
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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,513 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at PUC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 95% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Santa Barbara City College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,232 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SBCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,912. Associate Degree recipients from SBCC accumulate an average of $21,459 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at SBCC. In fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #7, Merced College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they attend Merced Community College District full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,444. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,503 in student loans.
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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gavilan College is $1,166. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,214. Associate Degree recipients from Gavilan College accumulate an average of $13,308 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Gavilan College. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Saddleback College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
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.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Saddleback College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Yuba College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in California list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,128 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Yuba College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,488. Associate Degree recipients from Yuba College accumulate an average of $9,195 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Yuba College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #11, Los Angeles Valley College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from California who attend LAVC full time pay an average of $1,238 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to 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.
Some students may be able 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.
Asher College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list.
Associate Degree recipients from Asher College accumulate an average of $18,907 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Asher College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #13, Mount Saint Mary’s University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $45,388 to cover tuition and fees at MSMU. 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 $24,268 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MSMU does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cuesta College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $1,338 in tuition and fees if they attend Cuesta College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,702. On average, associate degree students take out $10,466 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Cuesta College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Napa Valley College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Napa Valley College is $1,150. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,734. On average, associate degree students take out $12,735 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Napa Valley College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #16, Mendocino College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,423 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Mendocino College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,443. On average, associate degree students take out $20,626 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Mendocino College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Cerritos College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in California list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cerritos College is $1,346. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,026. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,554 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Cerritos College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
College of the Canyons came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,146 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of the Canyons. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,682. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,439 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that College of the Canyons does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
DeVry University - California came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking.
DeVry University - California does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,032. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from DeVry University - California accumulate an average of $35,424 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
DeVry University - California does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
San Jose City College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at San Jose City College is $1,366. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,486. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,005 in student loans.
Online courses are available at San Jose City College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Moorpark College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $1,394 in tuition and fees if they attend Moorpark College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,398. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,214 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Moorpark College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Evergreen Valley College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Evergreen Valley College is $1,366. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,286. On average, associate degree students take out $11,716 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Evergreen Valley College. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Los Angeles City College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Los Angeles City College is $1,238. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,012. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,549 in student loans.
Los Angeles City College 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Los Angeles Harbor College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in California ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at LAHC is $1,238. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,012. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,073 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LAHC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Moreno Valley College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in California list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,420 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Moreno Valley College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,120. On average, associate degree students take out $13,506 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Moreno Valley College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 36% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Best Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
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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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