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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts ranking. This report analyzed 18 schools in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Bay State College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Massachusetts. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 76 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $29,500 to cover tuition and fees at Bay State College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Bay State College accumulate an average of $21,802 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Bay State College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% 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 Mount Wachusett Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. MWCC is a public institution located in Gardner, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 540 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MWCC is $5,760. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,680. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,600 in student loans.
MWCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Fisher College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Massachusetts. Fisher College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 41 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Fisher College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $34,150. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $16,058 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Fisher College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Springfield Technical Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. STCC is a public institution located in Springfield, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 719 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at STCC is $5,520. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,728. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,676 in student loans.
Online courses are available at STCC, 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 91% 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 North Shore Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. North Shore Community College is located in Danvers, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 734 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees if they attend North Shore Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,920. Associate Degree recipients from North Shore Community College accumulate an average of $12,225 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Shore Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bunker Hill 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 #6 on the list. BHCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 1,125 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BHCC is $5,280. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,224. Associate Degree recipients from BHCC accumulate an average of $11,644 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
BHCC 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 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Roxbury Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. Roxbury Community College is a small public school situated in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts. It awarded 133 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend Roxbury Community College full time pay an average of $6,096 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,088.
If you are interested in distance education, Roxbury Community College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Cape Cod Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, the small public school handed out 348 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,592 in tuition and fees if they attend Cape Cod Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,536. Associate Degree recipients from Cape Cod Community College accumulate an average of $13,292 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Cape Cod 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 2020-2021 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Massachusetts Bay Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Massachusetts Bay Community College is a small public school located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts that handed out 395 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,376 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MassBay Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,320. On average, associate degree students take out $8,333 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MassBay Community College. In 2020-2021 about 97% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, University of Massachusetts - Lowell did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. University of Massachusetts - Lowell is a fairly large public school located in Lowell, Massachusetts that handed out 32 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $16,182 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UMass Lowell. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $34,550. Associate Degree recipients from UMass Lowell accumulate an average of $21,551 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UMass Lowell 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 28% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #11, Middlesex Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Middlesex Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bedford, Massachusetts. It awarded 727 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,098 in tuition and fees if they attend Middlesex Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,170. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,676 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Middlesex Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
Massasoit 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 #12 on the list. Located in Brockton, Massachusetts, the small public school handed out 739 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,376 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Massasoit Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,320. On average, associate degree students take out $10,174 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Massasoit Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bristol 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 #13 on the list. Located in Fall River, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school handed out 904 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Bristol is $5,280. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,224. Associate Degree recipients from Bristol accumulate an average of $9,022 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Bristol does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northern Essex Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. Haverhill, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 470 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,688 in tuition and fees if they attend NECC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,472. Associate Degree recipients from NECC accumulate an average of $12,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NECC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Berkshire Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Berkshire Community College is a small public school located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts that handed out 188 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend BCC full time pay an average of $5,492 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,108. On average, associate degree students take out $15,282 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that BCC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.
Quinsigamond 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. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 898 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,830 in tuition and fees if they attend Quinsigamond Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,774. On average, associate degree students take out $17,562 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Quinsigamond Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 41% took at least some of their classes online.
Quincy College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Quincy College is a public institution located in Quincy, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,344 to cover tuition and fees at Quincy 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 $15,248 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Quincy College. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Holyoke Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Holyoke Community College is a small public school situated in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It awarded 555 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Holyoke Community College is $5,570. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,514. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,235 in student loans.
Holyoke 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 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 18 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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