2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania
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. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
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 in Pennsylvania ranking. This report analyzed 55 schools in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Out of the 55 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Elizabethtown College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Etown is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 9 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Etown is $35,700. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $18,702 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Etown does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 26% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Pennsylvania. Located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $11,320 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend IUP. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,927.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since IUP does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Thomas Jefferson University is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.
Thomas Jefferson University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $44,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $24,705 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Thomas Jefferson University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
Widener University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Widener is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 13 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Widener does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $51,639. This amount may 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 $15,311 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Widener. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
Gannon University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Gannon, expect to pay an average of $36,706 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at Gannon, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Pittsburgh - Titusville 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 #8 on the list. University of Pittsburgh - Titusville is a very small public school located in Titusville, Pennsylvania that handed out 9 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $11,918 in tuition and fees if they attend Pitt Titusville full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $22,210. On average, associate degree students take out $22,479 in loans while pursuing their degree.
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $21,080 in tuition and fees if they attend Pitt full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $37,320. On average, associate degree students take out $19,903 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Pitt does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 19% took at least some of their classes online.
Central Penn College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, the very small private for-profit school handed out 119 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Central Penn, expect to pay an average of $19,404 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,442 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Central Penn does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 79% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Thaddeus Stevens College 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 #12 on the list. This small public school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 412 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is $8,450. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,889 in student loans.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology 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 94% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Harcum College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 363 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $28,240 to cover tuition and fees at Harcum College. 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 $20,109 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Harcum College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, Pennsylvania College of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the small public school awarded 711 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $17,940 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Penn College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $25,680. Associate Degree recipients from Penn College accumulate an average of $20,551 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 Penn College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Holy Family University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Holy Family, expect to pay an average of $32,558 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Holy Family. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Lehigh Carbon Community 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. LCCC is a public institution located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 853 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $9,030 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend LCCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,960. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,247 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 73% took at least some of their classes online.
Bucks County Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school awarded 823 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,184 in tuition and fees if they attend Bucks County Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,384. Associate Degree recipients from Bucks County Community College accumulate an average of $13,561 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Bucks County Community 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. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Gwynedd Mercy University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Gwynedd - Mercy is located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Gwynedd - Mercy is $37,791. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Gwynedd - Mercy. In 2020-2021 about 27% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #20, Mercyhurst University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 111 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Mercyhurst is $43,460. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Mercyhurst accumulate an average of $20,242 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Mercyhurst. In 2020-2021 about 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #21, Triangle Tech - Dubois did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Triangle Tech - Dubois is a very small private for-profit school situated in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. It awarded 59 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $18,449 to cover tuition and fees at Triangle Tech - Dubois. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $14,027 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Alvernia 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 #22 on the list. Alvernia is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Reading, Pennsylvania. It awarded 89 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $40,750 to cover tuition and fees at Alvernia. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
One thing to take note of is that Alvernia does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Montgomery County Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,253 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Montco is $10,650. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,390. On average, associate degree students take out $13,849 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Montco. 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.
Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown 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. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the very small private for-profit school handed out 28 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $14,800 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Pittsburgh Technical College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. Pittsburgh Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oakdale, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 520 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Pittsburgh Technical College is $16,974. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $18,250 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Pittsburgh Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 32% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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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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