If you’re weighing the difference between a bachelor’s and an associate degree, you might be doing so for a variety of reasons. For example, perhaps you want to attend a college close to home, or perhaps you’re searching for a specialized major at a two-year school. For most people, their decision is usually influenced by some combination of these things… not to mention the fact that you want to attend college somewhere that will actually benefit you financially.
If you are college-bound, you’ve probably spent countless hours doing research on this very topic. To help you in your college search, PayScale has compiled data on over one thousand two-year colleges for our 2017 College Salary Report,which ranks the best two-year and four-year colleges in every state. For this report, we define “best colleges” as the colleges where graduates have the highest median mid-career salaries.
Alabama
Best 2 Year College: University of Mobile
Mid-Career Salary: $66,600
City: Mobile
Alaska
Best 2 Year College: University of Alaska Anchorage
Mid-Career Salary: $71,000
City: Anchorage
Arizona
Best 2 Year College: Glendale Community College
Mid-Career Salary: $73,800
City: Glendale
Arkansas
Best 2 Year College: Southern Arkansas University
Mid-Career Salary: $65,600
City: Magnolia
California
Best 2 Year College: Pacific Union College
Mid-Career Salary: $85,400
City: Angwin
Colorado
Best 2 Year College: Colorado Northwestern University
Mid-Career Salary: $72,300
City: Rangley
Connecticut
Best 2 Year College: St. Vincent’s College
Mid-Career Salary: $75,100
City: Bridgeport
Delaware
Best 2 Year College: Wesley College
Mid-Career Salary: $59,700
City: Dover
Florida
Best 2 Year College: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worlwide
Mid-Career Salary: $74,800
City: Online
Georgia
Best 2 Year College: Kennesaw State University
Mid-Career Salary: $67,800
City: Kennesaw
Hawaii
Best 2 Year College: Hawaii Pacific University
Mid-Career Salary: $65,600
City: Honolulu
Idaho
Best 2 Year College: Idaho State University
Mid-Career Salary: $62,300
City: Pocatello
Illinois
Best 2 Year College: Prairie State College
Mid-Career Salary: $70,700
City: Chicago Heights
Indiana
Best 2 Year College: Indiana University
Mid-Career Salary: $68,900
City: Bloomington
Iowa
Best 2 Year College: Northwest Iowa Community College
Mid-Career Salary: $65,800
City: Sheldon
Kansas
Best 2 Year College: Northwest Kansas Technical College
Mid-Career Salary: $66,800
City: Goodland
Kentucky
Best 2 Year College: Kentucky State University
Mid-Career Salary: $65,100
City: Frankfort
Louisiana
Best 2 Year College: Louisiana State University
Mid-Career Salary: $71,700
City: Baton Rouge
Maine
Best 2 Year College: Northern Maine Community College
Mid-Career Salary: $59,500
City: Presque Isle
Maryland
Best 2 Year College: University of Maryland-University College
Mid-Career Salary: $70,300
City: Adelphi
Massachusetts
Best 2 Year College: Laboure College
Mid-Career Salary: $83,300
City: Boston
Michigan
Best 2 Year College: Michigan Technological University
Mid-Career Salary: $74,400
City: Houghton
Minnesota
Best 2 Year College: Dunwoody College of Technology
Mid-Career Salary: $73,600
City: Minneapolis
Mississippi
Best 2 Year College: Pearl River Community College
Mid-Career Salary: $59,200
City: Poplarville
Missouri
Best 2 Year College: Ranken Technical College
Mid-Career Salary: $68,200
City: St. Louis
Montana
Best 2 Year College: Montana State University-Northern
Mid-Career Salary: $67,400
City: Havre
Nebraska
Best 2 Year College: College of St. Mary
Mid-Career Salary: $62,300
City: Omaha
Nevada
Best 2 Year College: Great Basin College
Mid-Career Salary: $62,300
City: Elko
New Hampshire
Best 2 Year College: Rivier University
Mid-Career Salary: $74,500
City: Nashua
New Jersey
Best 2 Year College: County College of Morris
Mid-Career Salary: $69,900
City: Randolph
New Mexico
Best 2 Year College: Eastern New Mexico University
Mid-Career Salary: $66,100
City: Portales
New York
Best 2 Year College: Helene Fuld College of Nursing
Mid-Career Salary: $87,300
City: New York City
North Carolina
Best 2 Year College: Campbell University
Mid-Career Salary: $68,300
City: Buies Creek
North Dakota
Best 2 Year College: Bismarck State College
Mid-Career Salary:$61,900
City: Bismarck
Ohio
Best 2 Year College: Kettering College
Mid-Career Salary: $75,500
City: Kettering
Oklahoma
Best 2 Year College: Bacone College
Mid-Career Salary: $63,200
City: Muskogee
Oregon
Best 2 Year College: Oregon Institute of Technology
Mid-Career Salary: $64,800
City: Klamath Falls
Pennsylvania
Best 2 Year College: Drexel University
Mid-Career Salary: $74,300
City: Philadelphia
Rhode Island
Best 2 Year College: New England Institute of Technology
Mid-Career Salary: $64,800
City: Warwick
South Carolina
Best 2 Year College: Florence-Darlington Technical College
Mid-Career Salary: $60,100
City: Florence
South Dakota
Best 2 Year College: University of South Dakota
Mid-Career Salary: $66,900
City: Vermillion
Tennessee
Best 2 Year College: Aquinas College
Mid-Career Salary: $71,500
City: Nashville
Texas
Best 2 Year College: Galveston College
Mid-Career Salary: $70,200
City: Galveston
Utah
Best 2 Year College: Weber State University
Mid-Career Salary: $68,900
City: Odgen
Vermont
Best 2 Year College: Vermont Technical College
Mid-Career Salary: $65,200
City: Randolph
Virginia
Best 2 Year College: Regent University
Mid-Career Salary: $74,500
City: Virginia Beach
Washington
Best 2 Year College: Bellevue College
Mid-Career Salary: $73,100
City: Bellevue
West Virginia
Best 2 Year College: Davis & Elkins College
Mid-Career Salary: $62,000
City: Elkins
Wisconsin
Best 2 Year College: University of Wisconsin Colleges
Mid-Career Salary: $62,500
City: Madison
Wyoming
Best 2 Year College: Laramie County Community College
Mid-Career Salary: $58,600
City: Fox-Farm College
Tell Us What You Think!
Is your alma mater included in our list? We want to hear from you! Comment below or join the discussion on Twitter!
Featured Photo Credit: Pexels
