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Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Connecticut

2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Connecticut

10 Schools Ranked
$8,903 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$16,829 Avg Student Debt

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Connecticut to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 10 schools in Connecticut to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Tunxis Community College

Farmington, Connecticut
385 Total Awards
$4,820 Average Tuition & Fees
$9,258 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Tunxis Community College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Connecticut. Located in Farmington, Connecticut, the small public school handed out 385 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Connecticut who attend Tunxis Community College full time pay an average of $4,820 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,220. On average, associate degree students take out $9,258 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Online courses are available at Tunxis Community 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 79% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Tunxis Community College

#2

Gateway Community College

New Haven, Connecticut
604 Total Awards
$4,740 Average Tuition & Fees
$6,908 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Gateway Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the medium-sized public school awarded 604 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gateway Community College is $4,740. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,140. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,908 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Gateway Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#3

Manchester Community College

Manchester, Connecticut
622 Total Awards
$4,700 Average Tuition & Fees
$6,580 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Manchester Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Connecticut. This small public school is located in Manchester, Connecticut, and it awarded 622 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,700 in tuition and fees if they attend MCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,100. Associate Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $6,580 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

MCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Manchester Community College Report

#4

University of Hartford

West Hartford, Connecticut
69 Total Awards
$46,148 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent associate degree programs at University of Hartford helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Connecticut. West Hartford, Connecticut is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 69 students in 2021-2022.

UHart does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $46,148. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UHart. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 8% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

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#5

Middlesex Community College

Middletown, Connecticut
283 Total Awards
$4,700 Average Tuition & Fees
$6,067 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Middlesex Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Connecticut list. Middletown, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 283 students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Connecticut pay an average of $4,700 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MxCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,100. Associate Degree recipients from MxCC accumulate an average of $6,067 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Some students may be able to take online classes at MxCC. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#6

Naugatuck Valley Community College

Waterbury, Connecticut
567 Total Awards
$4,740 Average Tuition & Fees
$8,768 Avg Student Debt

Naugatuck Valley Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Naugatuck Valley Community College is a public institution located in Waterbury, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 567 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,740 in tuition and fees if they attend Naugatuck Valley Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,140. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,768 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that Naugatuck Valley Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Naugatuck Valley Community College

#7

Norwalk Community College

Norwalk, Connecticut
485 Total Awards
$4,772 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,662 Avg Student Debt

Norwalk Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Norwalk, Connecticut, the small public school handed out 485 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Connecticut who attend NCC full time pay an average of $4,772 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,172. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,662 in student loans.

NCC 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 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Norwalk Community College Report

#8

Capital Community College

Hartford, Connecticut
259 Total Awards
$4,820 Average Tuition & Fees
$8,588 Avg Student Debt

Capital Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Connecticut list. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the small public school awarded 259 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,820 in tuition and fees if they attend Capital Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,220. On average, associate degree students take out $8,588 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Since Capital Community College is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Full Capital Community College Report

#9

Three Rivers Community College

Norwich, Connecticut
383 Total Awards
$4,820 Average Tuition & Fees
$11,798 Avg Student Debt

Three Rivers Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Connecticut list. Three Rivers Community College is a public institution located in Norwich, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 383 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Connecticut pay an average of $4,820 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Three Rivers Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,220. On average, associate degree students take out $11,798 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Online courses are available at Three Rivers Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Three Rivers Community College Report

154 Total Awards
$4,772 Average Tuition & Fees
$8,747 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #10, Northwestern Connecticut Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Winsted, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 154 students in 2021-2022.

Students from Connecticut who attend NCCC full time pay an average of $4,772 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,172. Associate Degree recipients from NCCC accumulate an average of $8,747 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 NCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 77% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 10 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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