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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
The Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 113 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named West Hills College-Lemoore the best school in the Far Western US Region for trade school students working on their associate degree. West Hills College-Lemoore is a public institution located in Lemoore, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 767 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from West Hills College-Lemoore accumulate an average of $12,678 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at West Hills College-Lemoore. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Merced College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Merced, California, the fairly large public school awarded 1,615 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Merced Community College District is $1,194. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,890.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Merced Community College District. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 113 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Canada College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Redwood City, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 462 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,362 in tuition and fees if they attend Canada College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,006. On average, associate degree students take out $16,256 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Canada College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Barbara City College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. SBCC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 2,590 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,234 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SBCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,322. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,141 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SBCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Cuesta College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 2,629 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Cuesta College full time pay an average of $1,340 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,348. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,988 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cuesta College. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Foothill College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Los Altos Hills, California, and it awarded 998 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Foothill College full time pay an average of $1,565 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,510. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,968 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Foothill College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bellevue 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 #7 on the list. BC is a public institution located in Bellevue, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,783 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,159 in tuition and fees if they attend BC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,838. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,298 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 92% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Saddleback College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Mission Viejo, California, the fairly large public school awarded 3,760 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Saddleback College full time pay an average of $1,334 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,814. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,010 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Saddleback 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, 82% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #9, Oregon Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the small public school handed out 31 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $12,122 in tuition and fees if they attend OIT full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $33,956. On average, associate degree students take out $12,209 in loans while pursuing their degree.
OIT 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. In 2020-2021 about 31% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, Napa Valley College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Napa Valley College is a public institution located in Napa, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 612 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Napa Valley College is $1,156. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,388.
Online courses are available at Napa Valley College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gavilan College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Gilroy, California, the small public school awarded 641 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Gavilan College full time pay an average of $1,166 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,238.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Gavilan College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pacific Union College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. PUC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Angwin, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 103 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
PUC does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $33,678. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from PUC accumulate an average of $27,608 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 PUC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Stockton, California, and it awarded 3,631 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that Delta does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Olympic College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Bremerton, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,230 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Washington who attend OC full time pay an average of $4,472 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,740. On average, associate degree students take out $12,828 in loans while pursuing their degree.
OC 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. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Mt. San Antonio College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Walnut, California, the large public school handed out 3,780 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,352 in tuition and fees if they attend Mt. SAC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,096. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,514 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Mt. SAC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 10% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Cabrillo College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Aptos, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,994 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,262 in tuition and fees if they attend Cabrillo College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,630.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Cabrillo College. In 2020-2021 about 88% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Santa Rosa, California, the fairly large public school awarded 2,210 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SRJC is $1,318. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,310. Associate Degree recipients from SRJC accumulate an average of $15,618 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SRJC. In 2020-2021 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Yuba 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 #18 on the list. Marysville, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,330 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Yuba College is $1,128. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,488.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Yuba College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 79% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Alaska Anchorage 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. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, the fairly large public school handed out 581 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alaska pay an average of $7,508 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UAA. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $21,635. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,349 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UAA. During the 2020-2021 year, about 87% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Butte College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Butte College is a medium-sized public school located in Oroville, California that handed out 1,193 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Butte College full time pay an average of $1,336 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,816. On average, associate degree students take out $12,921 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Butte College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
West Hills College-Coalinga 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 #21 on the list. West Hills College-Coalinga is located in Coalinga, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 533 associate degrees to qualified students.
Associate Degree recipients from West Hills College-Coalinga accumulate an average of $7,816 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at West Hills College-Coalinga, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Fresno City College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Fresno, California, the large public school awarded 2,386 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Fresno City College is $1,330. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,890. On average, associate degree students take out $4,603 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Fresno City College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
College of the Desert landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Palm Desert, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,412 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,326 in tuition and fees if they attend College of the Desert full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,138.
One thing to take note of is that College of the Desert does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 88% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Cerritos 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 #24 on the list. Cerritos College is a fairly large public school located in Norwalk, California that handed out 2,591 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,364 in tuition and fees if they attend Cerritos College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,324. On average, associate degree students take out $13,198 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Cerritos College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Hawaii Maui 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 #25 on the list. Located in Kahului, Hawaii, the small public school handed out 340 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UH Maui College is $3,284. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,420. Associate Degree recipients from UH Maui College accumulate an average of $16,116 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that UH Maui College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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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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