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Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

17 Schools Ranked
$9,734 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

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 Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 17 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa
132 Total Awards
$25,220 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Waldorf University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in Iowa. Waldorf University is a small private for-profit school located in Forest City, Iowa that handed out 132 associate degrees in .

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $25,220 to cover tuition and fees at Waldorf. The school does not offer an in-state discount.

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208 Total Awards
$7,110 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Northwest Iowa Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree. Sheldon, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 208 students in .

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $7,110 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Northwest Iowa Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,410.

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#3

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
30 Total Awards
$35,960 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Dordt University is a great place for students working on their associate degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux Center, Iowa, and it awarded 30 associate degrees in .

The average tuition and fees at Dordt is $35,960. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.

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2,020 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,020 students in .

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#5

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
441 Total Awards
$6,450 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeastern Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Southeastern Community College is a public institution located in West Burlington, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 441 associate degrees in .

Southeastern Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,450. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.

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#6

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
707 Total Awards
$6,780 Average Tuition & Fees

Iowa Western 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 #6 on the list. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It awarded 707 associate degrees in .

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,780 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Iowa Western Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,930.

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358 Total Awards
$6,600 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeast Iowa Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Northeast Iowa Community College is a small public school located in Calmar, Iowa that handed out 358 associate degrees in .

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,600 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NICC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,470.

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#8

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1,614 Total Awards
$5,980 Average Tuition & Fees

Kirkwood Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs. This fairly large public school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 1,614 associate degrees in .

Students from Iowa who attend Kirkwood Community College full time pay an average of $5,980 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,968.

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744 Total Awards

Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a medium-sized public school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 744 associate degrees in .

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#10

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
602 Total Awards
$6,308 Average Tuition & Fees

Hawkeye 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 #10 on the list. This small public school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 602 associate degrees in .

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Hawkeye Community College is $6,308. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,598.

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#11

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, Iowa
870 Total Awards
$5,376 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the small public school awarded 870 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in .

Students from Iowa who attend Iowa Central Community College full time pay an average of $5,376 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,668.

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529 Total Awards

Indian Hills 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 #12 on the list. This small public school is located in Ottumwa, Iowa, and it awarded 529 associate degrees in .

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278 Total Awards
$6,510 Average Tuition & Fees

Southwestern Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Creston, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 278 students in .

In-state students pay an average of $6,510 in tuition and fees if they attend SWCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,720.

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#14

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, Iowa
314 Total Awards
$7,196 Average Tuition & Fees

Iowa Lakes Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Iowa Lakes Community College is located in Estherville, Iowa and has a small student population. In , this school awarded 314 associate degrees to qualified students.

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $7,196 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Iowa Lakes Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,644.

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503 Total Awards
$6,436 Average Tuition & Fees

North Iowa Area Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs. Located in Mason City, Iowa, the small public school awarded 503 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in .

Students from Iowa who attend North Iowa Area Community College full time pay an average of $6,436 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,245.

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#16

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
206 Total Awards
$5,304 Average Tuition & Fees

Marshalltown Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Marshalltown Community College is a public institution located in Marshalltown, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 206 associate degrees in .

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Marshalltown Community College is $5,304. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,808.

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435 Total Awards
$5,042 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 435 associate degrees in .

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $5,042 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,186.

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Best Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 17 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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