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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.
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Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Bay State College the best school in Massachusetts for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the very small private for-profit school awarded 76 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Bay State College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $29,500. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Bay State College accumulate an average of $21,802 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bay State College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Mount Wachusett Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. MWCC is a small public school situated in Gardner, Massachusetts. It awarded 540 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend MWCC full time pay an average of $5,760 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,680. Associate Degree recipients from MWCC accumulate an average of $10,600 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that MWCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fisher College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 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. Associate Degree recipients from Fisher College accumulate an average of $16,058 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Fisher College. 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. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the small public school awarded 719 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,520 in tuition and fees if they attend STCC full time. 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.
STCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Shore Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. North Shore Community College is a small public school situated in Danvers, Massachusetts. It awarded 734 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,225 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Shore Community College. In 2020-2021 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #6, Bunker Hill Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Bunker Hill Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 1,125 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,280 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BHCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,224. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,644 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BHCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Roxbury 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 #7 on the 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. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,088.
Roxbury Community College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #8, Cape Cod Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Cape Cod Community College is a public institution located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 348 associate degrees 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. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,536. On average, associate degree students take out $13,292 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cape Cod Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 53% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #9, Massachusetts Bay Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. MassBay Community College is a public institution located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,320. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,333 in student loans.
MassBay 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. During the 2020-2021 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Massachusetts - Lowell landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, the fairly large public school handed out 32 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UMass Lowell is $16,182. Out-of-state students pay an average of $34,550. On average, associate degree students take out $21,551 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UMass Lowell. In fact, around 28% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Middlesex Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Middlesex Community College is a public institution located in Bedford, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,170. On average, associate degree students take out $9,676 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Middlesex Community College does offer online classes in some areas. 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. Brockton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 739 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Massasoit Community College is $5,376. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,320. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,174 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Massasoit 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 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #13, Bristol Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Bristol is located in Fall River, Massachusetts and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 904 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Bristol is $5,280. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,224. On average, associate degree students take out $9,022 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Bristol does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northern Essex 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 #14 on the 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.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NECC is $5,688. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,472. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,741 in student loans.
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 landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This small public school is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 188 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,492 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,108. Associate Degree recipients from BCC accumulate an average of $15,282 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at BCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Quinsigamond Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts 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.
Full-time students from Massachusetts pay an average of $5,830 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Quinsigamond Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,774. Associate Degree recipients from Quinsigamond Community College accumulate an average of $17,562 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Quinsigamond Community College. In fact, around 41% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Quincy College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This small public school is located in Quincy, Massachusetts, and it awarded 301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Quincy College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $7,344. 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 $15,248 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Quincy College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Holyoke Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the small public school handed out 555 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend Holyoke Community College full time pay an average of $5,570 in tuition and fees. 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 offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
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.