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Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

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2023 Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

13 Schools Ranked
$6,922 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$21,468 Avg Student Debt*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which healthcare program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Our analysis looked at 13 schools in Iowa to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for healthcare 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.

Top Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

158 Total Awards
$5,904 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Eastern Iowa Community College District to be the best value school for healthcare students who want to pursue a associate degree in Iowa. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a public institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 158 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges are $5,904 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $20,417 in loans while pursuing their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. During the 2019-2020 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Eastern Iowa Community College District

102 Total Awards
$6,000 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 13 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s value ranking, Indian Hills Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the small public school awarded 102 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at IHCC are $6,000 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,117 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that IHCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

110 Total Awards
$4,826 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Western Iowa Tech Community College is a great place for healthcare students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 110 associate degrees to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,167 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Western Iowa Tech Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Western Iowa Tech Community College

226 Total Awards
$10,440 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. This large public school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 226 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DMACC are $10,440 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,614 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DMACC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Report

126 Total Awards
$6,840 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Northeast Iowa Community College is a great place for healthcare students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. NICC is a public institution located in Calmar, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 126 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NICC are $6,840 a year.

NICC 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 55% took at least some of their classes online.

NICC also took the #1 spot in our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa rankings.

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#6

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
289 Total Awards
$7,072 Average Tuition & Fees

Kirkwood Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 289 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kirkwood Community College are $7,072 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,972 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Kirkwood Community College. 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.

Kirkwood Community College also took the #5 spot in our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa rankings.

Read full report on Kirkwood Community College

#7

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
136 Total Awards
$6,524 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Hawkeye Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 136 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hawkeye Community College are $6,524 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,368 in student loans.

Hawkeye 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 41% took at least some of their classes online.

Hawkeye Community College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list.

Full Hawkeye Community College Report

50 Total Awards
$6,840 Average Tuition & Fees

Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for healthcare students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 associate degrees to qualified students.

Northwest Iowa Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,840 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,567 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Northwest Iowa Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Northwest Iowa Community College is ranked #2 for overall quality in Iowa.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Report

72 Total Awards
$8,547 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Mason City, Iowa, and it awarded 72 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

North Iowa Area Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,547 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,157 in student loans.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out North Iowa Area Community College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read More…

#10

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, Iowa
127 Total Awards
$8,650 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 127 associate degrees to qualified students.

Iowa Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,650 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,832 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at Iowa Central Community College, 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, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#11

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
74 Total Awards
$6,240 Average Tuition & Fees

Southeastern Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. This small public school is located in West Burlington, Iowa, and it awarded 74 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southeastern Community College are $6,240 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,052 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Southeastern Community College. 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.

Read More…

#12

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
168 Total Awards
$6,480 Average Tuition & Fees

Iowa Western Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Council Bluffs, Iowa that handed out 168 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Western Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,480 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,172 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Iowa Western Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.

Iowa Western Community College also took the #4 spot in our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in Iowa rankings.

Full Iowa Western Community College Report

#13

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, Iowa
33 Total Awards
$7,196 Average Tuition & Fees

Iowa Lakes Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for healthcare students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Iowa Lakes Community College is a small public school located in Estherville, Iowa that handed out 33 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Lakes Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,196 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,864 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 Iowa Lakes Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Iowa Lakes Community College Report

Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

View Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 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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