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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 16 schools in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Southwest Wisconsin Technical College the best school in Wisconsin for trade school students working on their associate degree. Southwest Tech is a public institution located in Fennimore, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 220 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Southwest Tech is $4,571. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,731. Associate Degree recipients from Southwest Tech accumulate an average of $10,841 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Southwest Tech 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 35% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Herzing University - Madison. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 197 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Herzing University - Madison does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $12,750. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Herzing University - Madison accumulate an average of $23,896 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Herzing University - Madison 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, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Western Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 624 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,636 in tuition and fees if they attend Western Technical College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,788. Associate Degree recipients from Western Technical College accumulate an average of $15,730 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Western Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 63% 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 Madison Area Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,366 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,607 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Madison College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,812. Associate Degree recipients from Madison College accumulate an average of $17,344 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Madison College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. This medium-sized public school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 796 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend CVTC full time pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793. Associate Degree recipients from CVTC accumulate an average of $16,093 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CVTC. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northcentral Technical 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 #6 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin, and it awarded 478 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $3,791 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend North Central Technical College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,512. On average, associate degree students take out $9,408 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Central Technical College. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. WCTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 641 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,571 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WCTC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,722. On average, associate degree students take out $17,845 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WCTC. In fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #8, Fox Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. FVTC is a fairly large public school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,009 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees if they attend FVTC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,977. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,433 in student loans.
Online courses are available at FVTC, 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, 31% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical 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 #9 on the list. NWTC is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 948 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $4,814 in tuition and fees if they attend NWTC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,965. Associate Degree recipients from NWTC accumulate an average of $15,597 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NWTC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Moraine Park Technical 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. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin that handed out 450 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,641 in tuition and fees if they attend Moraine Park Technical College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793. On average, associate degree students take out $12,604 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Moraine Park Technical College. In fact, around 42% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Blackhawk Technical 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 #11 on the list. BTC is located in Janesville, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 221 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BTC is $4,642. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793. On average, associate degree students take out $12,545 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at BTC. In 2020-2021 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Gateway Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. This medium-sized public school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 654 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gateway Technical College is $4,766. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,917. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,800 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Gateway Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 36% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical 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. This small public school is located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and it awarded 340 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from WITC accumulate an average of $11,381 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 WITC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lakeshore Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking. LTC is a small public school situated in Cleveland, Wisconsin. It awarded 270 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend LTC full time pay an average of $4,303 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,326. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,782 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LTC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Mid-State Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. Mid-State is a small public school situated in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. It awarded 239 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,760 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Mid-State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,850. On average, associate degree students take out $10,482 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Mid-State 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 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Milwaukee Area Technical 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 #16 on the list. MATC is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,217 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend MATC full time pay an average of $4,867 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,018. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,866 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that MATC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.
View Best Trade Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 16 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.