2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 126 schools in the Plains States 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 Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Anoka-Ramsey Community College to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Plains States Region .
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,515 to cover tuition and fees at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $23,645 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent associate degree programs at Bismarck State College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Plains States Region .
Full-time students from North Dakota pay an average of $4,926 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BSC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,930. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,120 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that BSC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waldorf University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
The average tuition and fees at Waldorf is $23,666. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $22,165 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Waldorf. In fact, around 73% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Ranken Technical College is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
The average tuition and fees at Ranken Technical College is $16,164. 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 Ranken Technical College accumulate an average of $15,083 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Ranken Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 126 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College landed the # 5 spot on the list.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,271 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Columbia College Missouri does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Johnson County Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Students from Kansas who attend JCCC full time pay an average of $2,688 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,352. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,979 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since JCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 84% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #7, Rockhurst University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Rockhurst does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $40,480. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Rockhurst 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. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Normandale Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at Normandale Community College is $5,789. 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 $20,674 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Normandale Community College. In 2019-2020 about 92% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Park University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list.
If you want to attend Park University, expect to pay an average of $8,853 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,208 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Park University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #10, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota, expect to pay an average of $13,558 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Minnesota accumulate an average of $27,551 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
Crown College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $28,110 to cover tuition and fees at Crown. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Crown. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Dunwoody College of Technology 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.
If you want to attend Dunwoody College of Technology, expect to pay an average of $23,863 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Dunwoody College of Technology accumulate an average of $20,479 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Dunwoody College of Technology. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
St Cloud Technical and Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,874. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from St Cloud Technical and Community College accumulate an average of $20,104 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
St Cloud Technical and Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $9,299 in tuition and fees if they attend South Dakota State full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,809. On average, associate degree students take out $17,354 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at South Dakota State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list.
The average tuition and fees at LATI is $6,718. 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 LATI accumulate an average of $16,724 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at LATI. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.
Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at ATCC is $5,910. 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 ATCC accumulate an average of $15,116 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that ATCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
St Catherine University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
If you want to attend St. Kate’s, expect to pay an average of $35,532 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $36,223 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at St. Kate’s. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Rochester Community and Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,372. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Rochester Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $22,180 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Rochester Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $6,540 in tuition and fees if they attend Northwest Iowa Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,840. On average, associate degree students take out $16,567 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Northwest Iowa Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Southeast Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,650 to cover tuition and fees at Southeast Tech. 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 $20,480 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Southeast Tech. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
The average tuition and fees at North Hennepin Community College is $4,882. 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 $24,520 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that North Hennepin Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
Metropolitan Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Full-time students from Nebraska pay an average of $3,195 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,680. Associate Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $13,886 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #23, Dakota State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from South Dakota pay an average of $9,633 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Dakota State. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,735. Associate Degree recipients from Dakota State accumulate an average of $27,139 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Dakota State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 73% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Century College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,907 to cover tuition and fees at Century College. 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 $22,559 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Century College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Inver Hills Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
If you want to attend IHCC, expect to pay an average of $5,809 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,611 in student loans.
Online courses are available at IHCC, 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, 85% 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 | Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA |
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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