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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:
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elizabethtown College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Etown does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $35,700. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $18,702 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Etown. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 26% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. IUP is a public institution located in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at IUP is $11,320. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,927.
One thing to take note of is that IUP does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
Out of the 55 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Thomas Jefferson University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson University is $44,200. 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 Thomas Jefferson University accumulate an average of $24,705 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Thomas Jefferson University, 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 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Widener University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 13 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $51,639 to cover tuition and fees at Widener. 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 $15,311 in student loans.
Some students 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. Gannon is located in Erie, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10 associate degrees to qualified students.
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.
Gannon 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, 22% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Pittsburgh - Titusville came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This very small public school is located in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 9 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $11,918 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pitt Titusville. Those students who come from outside the state 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.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $21,080 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pitt. Out-of-state students pay an average of $37,320. Associate Degree recipients from Pitt accumulate an average of $19,903 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Pitt 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 19% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Central Penn College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Central Penn is a very small private for-profit school situated in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. It awarded 119 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Central Penn does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $19,404. 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 $15,442 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Central Penn. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the small public school awarded 412 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,450 to cover tuition and fees at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology accumulate an average of $8,889 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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 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 very small private not-for-profit school is located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 363 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Harcum College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $28,240. 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 $20,109 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Harcum College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pennsylvania College of Technology landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a small public school located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania that handed out 711 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Pennsylvania who attend Penn College full time pay an average of $17,940 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $25,680. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,551 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Penn College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Holy Family 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. Holy Family University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 12 associate degrees 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.
You may have the opportunity 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. Associate Degree recipients from LCCC accumulate an average of $12,247 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at LCCC. 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. This medium-sized public school is located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 823 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $9,184 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Bucks County Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to 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.
Online courses are available at Bucks County Community 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 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gwynedd Mercy 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 #19 on the list. Gwynedd - Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. It awarded 10 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Gwynedd - Mercy, expect to pay an average of $37,791 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Gwynedd - Mercy does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 27% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Mercyhurst University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Mercyhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Erie, Pennsylvania. It awarded 111 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $43,460 to cover tuition and fees at Mercyhurst. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $20,242 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Mercyhurst, 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, 25% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Triangle Tech - Dubois 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. Triangle Tech - Dubois is a very small private for-profit school situated in Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. It awarded 59 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Triangle Tech - Dubois is $18,449. 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 $14,027 in loans while pursuing their degree.
With a ranking of #22, Alvernia University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Alvernia is located in Reading, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 89 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you want to attend Alvernia, expect to pay an average of $40,750 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Alvernia. 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. Montco is a public institution located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,253 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,650 in tuition and fees if they attend Montco full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,390. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,849 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Montco does offer online classes in some areas. 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 came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This very small private for-profit school is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 28 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,800 in student loans.
Pittsburgh Technical College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Pittsburgh Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oakdale, Pennsylvania. 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 2020-2021 about 32% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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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