2023 Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Minnesota 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.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Leech Lake Tribal College the best value school in Minnesota for students working on their associate degree. Cass Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
Leech Lake Tribal College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,926 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $5,426 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Leech Lake Tribal College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
The excellent associate degree programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Minnesota. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a public institution located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,071 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,515 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,645 in student loans.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 48% 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, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is ranked #1 for overall quality in Minnesota.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend North Hennepin Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 621 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,520 in student loans.
North Hennepin Community 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, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rochester Community and Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Rochester Community and Technical College is located in Rochester, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 670 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,180 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Rochester Community and Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Normandale Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Bloomington, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,208 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Normandale Community College are $5,789 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,674 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Normandale Community College is ranked #3 for overall quality in Minnesota.
St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 743 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
St Cloud Technical and Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,874 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,104 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
St Cloud Technical and Community 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, St Cloud Technical and Community College also is in the top 20% of our Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking.
With a ranking of #7, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 346 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
ATCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,910 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,116 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at ATCC. In 2019-2020 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
ATCC also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Inver Hills Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 494 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
IHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,809 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,611 in loans while pursuing their degree.
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. In fact, around 85% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #9, Century College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,145 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,559 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Century 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
Northland Community and Technical 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. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It awarded 422 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northland Community and Technical College are $6,052 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,969 in student loans.
Northland Community and Technical 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, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Ridgewater College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Willmar, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 612 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ridgewater College are $5,914 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,453 in student loans.
Ridgewater College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Central Lakes College is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 521 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Lakes College are $5,954 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,231 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Central Lakes 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 32% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Anoka Technical 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 #13 on the list. Anoka Technical College is a small public school located in Anoka, Minnesota that handed out 171 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Anoka Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,075 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $24,723 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Anoka Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 766 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
M State undergraduate students pay an average of $5,862 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,514 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at M State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #15, Lake Superior College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 654 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LSC are $5,616 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $23,773 in loans while pursuing their degree.
LSC 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, 47% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #16, Hennepin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 498 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Hennepin Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,741 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,067 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Hennepin Technical College. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Dakota County Technical 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 #17 on the list. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 391 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DCTC are $6,208 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,942 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that DCTC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #18, Northwest Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. This very small public school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 130 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NTC are $6,380 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,265 in student loans.
NTC 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, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Hibbing Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. This very small public school is located in Hibbing, Minnesota, and it awarded 182 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hibbing Community College are $7,071 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,202 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Hibbing Community College. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #20, South Central College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in North Mankato, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 389 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Central College are $5,966 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,738 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at South Central College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 797 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,906 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $26,611 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Minnesota West Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Granite Falls, Minnesota that handed out 236 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minnesota West are $11,936 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,016 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Minnesota West 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 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Saint Paul College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 663 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,041 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $23,862 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Saint Paul College. 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.
Fond du Lac Tribal and 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 #24 on the list. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a small public school situated in Cloquet, Minnesota. It awarded 166 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College are $5,815 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $23,197 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 16% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Itasca Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. This very small public school is located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and it awarded 176 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Itasca Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,086 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,457 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Itasca Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 46% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Best Value Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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