2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 895 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best school in the United States for trade school students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend Columbia Southern University, expect to pay an average of $5,775 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of $20,725 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Out of the 895 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Waldorf University landed the # 2 spot on the list.
If you want to attend Waldorf, expect to pay an average of $23,666 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $22,165 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Waldorf 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Edinboro is $10,543. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,062. Associate Degree recipients from Edinboro accumulate an average of $20,315 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Edinboro, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 895 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Clarion University of Pennsylvania landed the # 4 spot on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Clarion University is $11,173. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,052. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,043 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Clarion University does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent associate degree programs at Bismarck State College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the United States.
Students from North Dakota who attend BSC full time pay an average of $4,926 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,930. Associate Degree recipients from BSC accumulate an average of $17,120 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that BSC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.
Excelsior University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,946 in student loans.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Excelsior University. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
West Hills College-Lemoore did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list.
Associate Degree recipients from West Hills College-Lemoore accumulate an average of $13,643 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
West Hills College-Lemoore does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Ranken Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
If you want to attend Ranken Technical College, expect to pay an average of $16,164 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,083 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Ranken Technical 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 66% took at least some of their classes online.
Miami University - Hamilton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Miami University - Hamilton is $6,318. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,943. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,050 in student loans.
Miami University - Hamilton does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 68% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Merced College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they attend Merced Community College District full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,444. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,503 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Merced Community College District. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Herzing University - Akron did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #11 on the list.
Herzing Akron does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $14,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $33,509 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Herzing Akron, 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, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #12, Miami University - Middletown did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Miami University - Middletown is $6,318. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,303. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,050 in student loans.
Miami University - Middletown does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Canada College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Canada College is $1,362. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,006. Associate Degree recipients from Canada College accumulate an average of $13,439 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Herzing University - Atlanta did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $14,200 to cover tuition and fees at Herzing University - Atlanta. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,233 in student loans.
Herzing University - Atlanta 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rockhurst University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list.
Rockhurst does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $40,480. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Rockhurst. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,571 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Southwest Tech. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,683. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,718 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Southwest Tech. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Santa Barbara City College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
In-state students pay an average of $1,232 in tuition and fees if they attend SBCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,912. On average, associate degree students take out $21,459 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SBCC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
Herzing University - Birmingham did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list.
Herzing University - Birmingham does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $14,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Herzing University - Birmingham accumulate an average of $33,029 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Herzing University - Birmingham. In 2019-2020 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cuesta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cuesta College is $1,338. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,702. Associate Degree recipients from Cuesta College accumulate an average of $10,466 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cuesta College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #20, Foothill College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Foothill College is $1,565. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,790. Associate Degree recipients from Foothill College accumulate an average of $10,391 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Foothill 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 83% took at least some of their classes online.
Molloy College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
Molloy does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $34,310. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,850 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Molloy 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Bay State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $29,500 to cover tuition and fees at Bay State College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $36,855 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Bay State College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - Florida came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.
If you want to attend Rasmussen University - Florida, expect to pay an average of $13,635 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,566 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rasmussen University - Florida does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,883 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Illinois accumulate an average of $27,566 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Rasmussen University - Illinois, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Bellevue College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
Students from Washington who attend BC full time pay an average of $4,057 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,594. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,785 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BC. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best trade schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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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