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2026 Best Value Associate Degree Schools Associate’s Degree Schools

[Associate Degree Schools](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/sound-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong associate degree schools education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 9 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

College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

$1,166 In-State Tuition & Fees

$9,776 Avg Student Debt

$49,022 Median Earnings (10yr)

College Of The Canyons earned the #1 spot for value among associate degree schools schools in the United States. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Associate Degree Schools graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career associate degree schools graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.

2

Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, NY

$6,102 In-State Tuition & Fees

$12,000 Avg Student Debt

$41,190 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in associate degree schools will find it at Onondaga Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the associate degree schools program here. Soon after graduation, associate degree schools degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $35,781. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

Other Associate Degree Schools Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Associate Degree Schools rankings across degree levels:

View All Associate Degree Schools Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 9 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.