When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
Our analysis looked at 1,319 schools in the United States to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. Recent students who earned a associate degree in the United States entered the job market making an average of $35,806 while those in the top 20 schools on our list made an average of $40,853.
Starting Salary ( 26462 to 48379 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in the United States take out an average of $19,336.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Our 2024 rankings named Thomas Jefferson University the best school in the United States in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 54 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Thomas Jefferson University is $47,661 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $36,635 in student loans.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 14 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in the United States list means New York University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in New York, New York, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 109 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from NYU go into careers with an average salary of $60,040 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $20,000.
The excellent associate degree programs at Southeastern University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the United States. SEU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lakeland, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 197 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,145 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at Roger Williams University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the United States. Bristol, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from RWU make an average of $36,189 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,599 after getting their degree.
The New School landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 167 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from New School University make an average of $45,807 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $18,250 after getting their degree.
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
North Carolina State University landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 125 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from NC State is $35,537 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,167 after getting their degree.
University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school awarded 3,574 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,738 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $24,680. This translates to an average monthly payment of $141 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #10, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. Pitt is a large public school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 49 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,591 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,875 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $270 for a 10-year repayment plan.
George Washington University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 61 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from GWU go into careers with an average salary of $35,205 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,500.
American Public University System landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. American Military University is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,411 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from American Military University make an average of $38,331 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,979 after getting their degree.
Columbia International University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. CIU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. This large public school is located in Adelphi, Maryland, and it awarded 2,512 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from UMGC make an average of $34,203 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,573.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and it awarded 38 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach go into careers with an average salary of $52,944 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $18,074 after getting their degree.
Lee College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States list. This medium-sized public school is located in Baytown, Texas, and it awarded 1,223 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Lee College go into careers with an average salary of $62,127 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,617 after getting their degree.
Virginia Tech came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 30 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Virginia Tech is $33,436 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,000 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $291 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Ranken Technical College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 372 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Ranken Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $41,520 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,271. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $131.
Fashion Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #19. Located in New York, New York, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,925 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $20,231 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,833. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $276.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #20. This small public school is located in Syracuse, New York, and it awarded 52 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia Southern University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Orange Beach, Alabama, the fairly large private for-profit school handed out 1,582 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Columbia Southern University make an average of $50,040 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,519 in student loans.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 3,334 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is $32,693 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $26,140 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $160.
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,227 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from SNHU make an average of $36,512 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $20,166.
St Catherine University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. St. Kate’s is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 354 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,180 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $37,074. Average monthly loan payments are around $182 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Johnson & Wales University - Providence did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #25. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 302 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from JWU Providence make an average of $26,084 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,982. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $314.
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%.
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