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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.
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 the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 259 schools in the Southeast Region 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 the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best school in the Southeast Region for trade school students working on their associate degree. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in Orange Beach, Alabama that handed out 1,276 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Columbia Southern University is $6,015. 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 Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of $16,106 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Columbia Southern University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
The excellent associate degree programs at Herzing University - Atlanta helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southeast Region . Herzing University - Atlanta is located in Atlanta, Georgia and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 117 associate degrees to qualified students.
Herzing University - Atlanta does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $12,750. 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 $26,172 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Herzing University - Atlanta, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Herzing University - Birmingham. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Herzing University - Birmingham is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 90 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Herzing University - Birmingham is $12,750. 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 $23,896 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Herzing University - Birmingham. During the 2020-2021 year, about 48% 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 Rasmussen University - Florida. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Ocala, Florida. It awarded 2,014 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Rasmussen University - Florida, expect to pay an average of $13,842 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Florida accumulate an average of $21,089 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Florida. In 2020-2021 about 93% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southeast Region . Located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 914 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is $4,560. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480. Associate Degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $14,555 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Herzing University - Kenner 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. Located in Metairie, Louisiana, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 78 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $12,750 to cover tuition and fees at Herzing University - Kenner. 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 $24,465 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Herzing University - Kenner, 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, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Danville Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Danville, Virginia, the small public school awarded 210 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Danville Community College is $4,725. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,728. Associate Degree recipients from Danville Community College accumulate an average of $11,262 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Danville Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bluegrass Community and Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 1,618 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,560. Associate Degree recipients from Bluegrass Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $16,199 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Eastern Kentucky 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 #9 on the list. Eastern is a public institution located in Richmond, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 117 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $9,844 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Eastern. Out-of-state students pay an average of $20,222. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,568 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Eastern does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
South University, Montgomery ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. South University, Montgomery is a very small private for-profit school located in Montgomery, Alabama that handed out 44 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at South University, Montgomery is $16,560. 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 $24,698 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since South University, Montgomery does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Trident Technical College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and it awarded 1,438 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,059 in tuition and fees if they attend Trident Technical College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,606. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,444 in student loans.
Trident Technical 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 75% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
South University, Columbia came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the very small private for-profit school handed out 29 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend South University, Columbia, expect to pay an average of $16,560 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $24,698 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at South University, Columbia. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Hodges University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. International College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Myers, Florida. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 44 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend International College, expect to pay an average of $15,500 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could 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 $16,548 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at International College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. A-State is a public institution located in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 699 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $7,456 in tuition and fees if they attend A-State full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,312. On average, associate degree students take out $16,556 in loans while pursuing their degree.
A-State 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.
Albany State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Albany, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 698 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,484 in tuition and fees if they attend Albany State full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $16,206. On average, associate degree students take out $18,958 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Albany State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Spartanburg Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the medium-sized public school handed out 617 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,030 in tuition and fees if they attend Spartanburg Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,822. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,430 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Spartanburg Community College. In 2020-2021 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #17, Middle Georgia State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Middle Georgia State University is a medium-sized public school located in Macon, Georgia that handed out 265 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Middle Georgia State University is $3,976. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,448. On average, associate degree students take out $17,774 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Middle Georgia State University. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Northern Virginia Community College is a large public school situated in Annandale, Virginia. It awarded 5,692 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $5,565 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Northern Virginia Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,648. On average, associate degree students take out $15,263 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Northern Virginia 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 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #19, Jackson State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 532 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,396 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend JSCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,076.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at JSCC. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Hillsborough 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 #20 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 3,920 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,506 in tuition and fees if they attend HCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,111. Associate Degree recipients from HCC accumulate an average of $16,096 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
HCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #21, Nicholls State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Nicholls State University is a medium-sized public school located in Thibodaux, Louisiana that handed out 136 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Louisiana who attend Nicholls State University full time pay an average of $8,156 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,249. On average, associate degree students take out $16,531 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Nicholls State University, 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, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Central Georgia Technical College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. CGTC is located in Warner Robins, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,042 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Georgia pay an average of $3,082 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CGTC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,482. Associate Degree recipients from CGTC accumulate an average of $12,341 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
CGTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 46% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rome, Georgia. It awarded 523 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Georgia pay an average of $3,112 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,512. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,577 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Georgia Northwestern Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Radford University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Radford, Virginia, and it awarded 68 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Radford is $11,916. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $24,453. Associate Degree recipients from Radford accumulate an average of $20,557 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Radford. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
South University, Virginia Beach 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 #25 on the list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 23 students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend South University, Virginia Beach, expect to pay an average of $16,560 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could 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 $24,698 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at South University, Virginia Beach. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 46% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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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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