2023 Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Iowa
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Iowa to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in Iowa to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Associate Degree Schools in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Eastern Iowa Community College District the best value school in Iowa for students working on their associate degree. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a medium-sized public school located in Davenport, Iowa that handed out 846 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges are $5,904 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,417 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Eastern Iowa Community Colleges does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value 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 2,029 students in 2020-2021.
DMACC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,440 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,614 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DMACC. In 2019-2020 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
DMACC also took the #4 spot in our Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa rankings.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Indian Hills Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the small public school awarded 538 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IHCC are $6,000 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,117 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that IHCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Out of the 17 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s value ranking, Northwest Iowa Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Sheldon, Iowa, and it awarded 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Northwest Iowa Community College are $6,840 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,567 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Northwest Iowa Community College 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.
Northwest Iowa Community College also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa rankings.
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 Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the fairly large public school handed out 1,654 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kirkwood Community College are $7,072 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,972 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Kirkwood Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 422 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,167 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Marshalltown Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Located in Marshalltown, Iowa, the small public school awarded 207 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Marshalltown Community College are $5,448 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,126 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Marshalltown Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #8, Southeastern Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in West Burlington, Iowa, the small public school awarded 408 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southeastern Community College are $6,240 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,052 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southeastern Community College. In 2019-2020 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southeastern Community College also made our Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list, coming in at #5.
Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Calmar, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 454 students in 2020-2021.
NICC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,840 in tuition and fees each year.
NICC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Iowa Western Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 765 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Iowa Western Community College are $6,480 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,172 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Iowa Western Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Hawkeye Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Waterloo, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 669 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hawkeye Community College are $6,524 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,368 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Hawkeye Community College. In fact, around 41% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Iowa Central Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 777 associate degrees to qualified students.
Iowa Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,650 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,832 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Iowa Central Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #13, Southwestern Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. SWCC is a small public school situated in Creston, Iowa. It awarded 247 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SWCC are $6,270 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,617 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SWCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 580 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Iowa Area Community College are $8,547 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,157 in student loans.
North Iowa Area Community College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Iowa Lakes Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Estherville, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 312 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Iowa Lakes Community College are $7,196 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,864 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Iowa Lakes Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Waldorf University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Located in Forest City, Iowa, the small private for-profit school awarded 177 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Waldorf undergraduate students pay an average of $23,666 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $22,165 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 Waldorf does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Waldorf is ranked #1 for overall quality in Iowa.
Dordt University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Dordt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 20 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Dordt are $33,590 a year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Dordt. In 2019-2020 about 29% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Dordt did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list.
Best Value 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
- 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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