2023 Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 26 schools in Missouri to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named State Fair Community College the best value school in Missouri for students working on their associate degree. State Fair Community College is a small public school located in Sedalia, Missouri that handed out 679 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at State Fair Community College are $6,168 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,832 in loans while pursuing their degree.
State Fair 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Moberly Area Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. MACC is located in Moberly, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 807 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MACC are $7,860 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,707 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at MACC, 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, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
MACC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ozarks Technical Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. OTC is located in Springfield, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,607 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OTC are $6,028 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,198 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at OTC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means St Charles Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Cottleville, Missouri, the medium-sized public school handed out 847 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SCC are $6,900 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,948 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Saint Louis Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Saint Louis Community College is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,102 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Saint Louis Community College are $7,155 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,964 in student loans.
Saint Louis 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. In 2019-2020 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #6, Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CMU CGES are $6,720 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CMU CGES. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
In addition to its great value ranking, CMU CGES is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list.
Full Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Report
Crowder College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Located in Neosho, Missouri, the small public school awarded 653 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Crowder College are $5,088 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,664 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Crowder College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #8, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 1,868 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MCC are $9,210 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,587 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MCC. In fact, around 92% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
East Central College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Union, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 432 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at East Central College are $6,168 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,037 in student loans.
East Central College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
Missouri State University - West Plains came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Missouri State West Plains is a small public school situated in West Plains, Missouri. It awarded 247 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Missouri State West Plains are $8,880 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,491 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Missouri State West Plains 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 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #11, Mineral Area College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Park Hills, Missouri, the small public school awarded 487 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MAC are $6,760 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,081 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that MAC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
State Technical College of Missouri came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. STC is located in Linn, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 601 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at STC are $12,780 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,443 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 STC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 21% 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 value places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Parkville, Missouri that handed out 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Park University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,853 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,208 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Park University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Park University did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list.
With a ranking of #14, Jefferson College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Hillsboro, Missouri, the small public school awarded 606 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JeffCo are $7,740 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,466 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at JeffCo. During the 2019-2020 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Columbia College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 839 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Columbia College Missouri are $11,636 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $29,271 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Columbia College Missouri 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 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Columbia College Missouri also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri rankings.
North Central Missouri College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Trenton, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 319 students in 2020-2021.
NCMC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,020 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,303 in student loans.
NCMC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #17, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Joplin, Missouri, the small public school handed out 142 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Missouri Southern undergraduate students pay an average of $15,896 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $26,243 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Missouri Southern. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #18, Three Rivers College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Three Rivers College is a small public school located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri that handed out 477 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Three Rivers College are $6,510 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,201 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Three Rivers College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Missouri State University are $15,285 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $21,182 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Southeast Missouri State University, 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, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Missouri Western State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Missouri Western is a small public school situated in Saint Joseph, Missouri. It awarded 24 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri Western undergraduate students pay an average of $15,550 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,206 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Missouri Western 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, 67% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #21, Ranken Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 372 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Ranken Technical College are $16,164 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,083 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Ranken Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ranken Technical College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list.
Bryan University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. Bryan University is a very small private for-profit school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 56 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Bryan University are $15,782 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,548 in student loans.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Bryan University. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #23, Rockhurst University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 52 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rockhurst are $40,480 per year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Rockhurst. 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.
Rockhurst also made our Best Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list, coming in at #3.
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree programs. CMU CLAS is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fayette, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CMU CLAS are $26,470 a year.
With a ranking of #25, Southwest Baptist University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their associate degree. Southwest Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bolivar, Missouri. It awarded 166 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwest Baptist University undergraduate students pay an average of $26,060 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $25,722 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southwest Baptist University does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 38% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
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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