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2026 Best Value Associate Degree Schools Associate’s Degree Schools

[Associate Degree Schools](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong associate degree schools education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 497 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value associate degree schools schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Associate’s Degree Associate Degree Schools Schools
• Other Degree Levels

2026 Best Value Associate Degree Schools Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in associate degree schools, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Associate Degree Schools Schools

1

Southwestern College Chula Vista
Chula Vista, CA

$1,344 In-State Tuition & Fees

$11,205 Avg Student Debt

$40,060 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in associate degree schools, no school beat Southwestern College Chula Vista this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,344, with out-of-state students paying around $10,640. Typical student debt for associate degree schools graduates is $11,205. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $49,358. That is a strong return on a $11,205 median debt.

2

Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Marion, IN

$9,648 In-State Tuition & Fees

$32,807 Avg Student Debt

$59,986 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned it the #2 place for associate degree schools. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $32,807 in student loans. Associate Degree Schools graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $47,491 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

Other Associate Degree Schools Degree Levels

Explore the best-value associate degree schools schools at other degree levels:

View All Associate Degree Schools Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 497 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.