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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.
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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 small public school located in Lemoore, California that handed out 767 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,678 in student loans.
Some students may be able 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.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Merced College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Merced College is a fairly large public school located in Merced, California that handed out 1,615 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,194 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 $7,890.
Merced Community College District 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 2020-2021 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Canada College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Redwood City, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 462 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Canada College full time pay an average of $1,362 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,006. Associate Degree recipients from Canada College accumulate an average of $16,256 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Canada 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. During the 2020-2021 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 113 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Barbara City College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Santa Barbara City College is a fairly large public school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 2,590 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,234 in tuition and fees if they attend SBCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,322. Associate Degree recipients from SBCC accumulate an average of $17,141 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at SBCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Cuesta College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,629 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,340 in tuition and fees if they attend Cuesta College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,348. On average, associate degree students take out $17,988 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Cuesta 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Foothill College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 998 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $1,565 in tuition and fees if they attend Foothill College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,510. On average, associate degree students take out $12,968 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Foothill College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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. Located in Bellevue, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 1,783 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BC is $4,159. If you are from out of state, expect to 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.
One thing to take note of is that BC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Saddleback College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California. It awarded 3,760 associate degrees 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. Associate Degree recipients from Saddleback College accumulate an average of $8,010 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Saddleback College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Oregon Institute of Technology 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. Located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the small public school handed out 31 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Oregon who attend OIT full time pay an average of $12,122 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $33,956. Associate Degree recipients from OIT accumulate an average of $12,209 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 OIT does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 31% took at least some of their classes online.
Napa Valley College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Napa Valley College is a small public school situated in Napa, California. It awarded 612 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,156 in tuition and fees if they attend Napa Valley College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,388.
Napa Valley 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 2020-2021 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #11, Gavilan College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 641 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gavilan College is $1,166. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,238.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Gavilan College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Pacific Union 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 #12 on the list. Located in Angwin, California, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 103 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $33,678 to cover tuition and fees at PUC. 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 $27,608 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since PUC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
San Joaquin Delta 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 #13 on the list. Delta is a fairly large public school situated in Stockton, California. It awarded 3,631 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Delta. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
Olympic College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Olympic College is a small public school located in Bremerton, Washington that handed out 1,230 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Washington pay an average of $4,472 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend OC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,740. On average, associate degree students take out $12,828 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at OC. 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. Mt. SAC is a public institution located in Walnut, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,780 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Mt. SAC full time pay an average of $1,352 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,096. Associate Degree recipients from Mt. SAC accumulate an average of $12,514 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Mt. SAC. In fact, around 10% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Cabrillo College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school located in Aptos, California that handed out 1,994 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cabrillo College is $1,262. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,630.
Cabrillo 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,210 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,318 in tuition and fees if they attend SRJC full time. Those students who come from outside the state 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.
Online courses are available at SRJC, 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 85% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Yuba College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Yuba College is located in Marysville, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,330 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $1,128 in tuition and fees if they attend Yuba College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,488.
One thing to take note of is that Yuba College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 79% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Alaska Anchorage came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. UAA is located in Anchorage, Alaska and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 581 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UAA is $7,508. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $21,635. On average, associate degree students take out $18,349 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UAA does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 87% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Butte College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Oroville, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,193 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Butte College full time pay an average of $1,336 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,816. Associate Degree recipients from Butte College accumulate an average of $12,921 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Butte 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 2020-2021 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
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.
Some students may be able to take online classes at West Hills College-Coalinga. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Fresno City College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. 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.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Fresno City College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 88% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
College of the Desert landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Palm Desert, California, the fairly large public school handed out 1,412 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at College of the Desert is $1,326. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,138.
Online courses are available at College of the Desert, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 88% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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 located in Norwalk, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,591 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from California who attend Cerritos College full time pay an average of $1,364 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,324. Associate Degree recipients from Cerritos College accumulate an average of $13,198 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cerritos College. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Hawaii Maui College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Kahului, Hawaii, the small public school awarded 340 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,116 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that UH Maui College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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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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