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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida
Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
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 Florida ranking. This report analyzed 34 schools in Florida 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 Florida
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Rasmussen University - Florida the best school in Florida for trade school students working on their associate degree. 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 don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,842 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Florida. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Florida accumulate an average of $21,089 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Florida. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 93% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Hodges University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. Located in Fort Myers, Florida, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 44 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students 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.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since International College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Hillsborough Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,920 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend HCC full time pay an average of $2,506 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,111. On average, associate degree students take out $16,096 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at HCC. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Valencia College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Florida. This large public school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 8,600 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend Valencia College full time pay an average of $2,474 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,383. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,788 in student loans.
Valencia 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 84% 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 Miami Dade College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. MDC is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,398 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $2,838 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MDC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,661. Associate Degree recipients from MDC accumulate an average of $13,654 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at MDC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 82% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Florida SouthWestern State College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. FSW is located in Fort Myers, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,240 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,401 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend FSW. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,979. On average, associate degree students take out $12,150 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at FSW. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
Santa Fe College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 2,487 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,563 in tuition and fees if they attend Santa Fe College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,189. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,615 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Santa Fe College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #8, Florida Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Florida Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Melbourne, Florida that handed out 36 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $43,670 to cover tuition and fees at Florida Tech. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $23,409 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Florida Tech does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 2% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Polk State College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Winter Haven, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,605 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,366 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Polk State. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,271. Associate Degree recipients from Polk State accumulate an average of $12,473 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Polk State does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Florida Gateway College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. Lake City, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 469 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,100 in tuition and fees if they attend FGC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,747. Associate Degree recipients from FGC accumulate an average of $8,865 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
FGC 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 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Broward College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida ranking. BC is a public institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,046 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,830 in tuition and fees if they attend BC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,952. On average, associate degree students take out $9,156 in loans while pursuing their degree.
BC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Palm Beach State College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Lake Worth, Florida, the large public school awarded 4,046 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Palm Beach State College is $3,050. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,910. Associate Degree recipients from Palm Beach State College accumulate an average of $10,892 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Palm Beach State College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Bradenton, Florida, and it awarded 1,631 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,074 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,595. On average, associate degree students take out $11,602 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota
Florida State College at Jacksonville 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. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 3,210 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend FSCJ full time pay an average of $2,657 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,631. Associate Degree recipients from FSCJ accumulate an average of $16,098 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that FSCJ does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Eastern Florida State College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. EFSC is a fairly large public school situated in Melbourne, Florida. It awarded 2,632 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,791 in tuition and fees if they attend EFSC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,976. Associate Degree recipients from EFSC accumulate an average of $16,784 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at EFSC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida ranking. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It awarded 3,134 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale, expect to pay an average of $23,248 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale accumulate an average of $22,865 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale, 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 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
St Petersburg College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida ranking. SPC is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,899 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $2,682 in tuition and fees if they attend SPC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,286. On average, associate degree students take out $19,937 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SPC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
City College - Altamonte Springs came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida ranking. City College - Altamonte Springs is a very small private for-profit school located in Altamonte Springs, Florida that handed out 30 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend City College - Altamonte Springs, expect to pay an average of $18,615 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from City College - Altamonte Springs accumulate an average of $23,233 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
City College - Altamonte Springs is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Saint Johns River State 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 #19 on the list. Palatka, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 941 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,830 in tuition and fees if they attend St. Johns River Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,347. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,519 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that St. Johns River Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gulf Coast State College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. Panama City, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 616 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at GCSC is $2,370. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,635. Associate Degree recipients from GCSC accumulate an average of $10,951 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that GCSC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Tallahassee Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Tallahassee Community College is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,516 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Tallahassee Community College is $2,026. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,062. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,185 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Tallahassee Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, Seminole State College of Florida did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Seminole State is a public institution located in Sanford, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,593 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend Seminole State full time pay an average of $3,131 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,456. Associate Degree recipients from Seminole State accumulate an average of $15,581 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 Seminole State does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Daytona State College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and it awarded 1,973 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Daytona State College is $3,106. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,994. Associate Degree recipients from Daytona State College accumulate an average of $13,278 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Daytona State 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 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
City College - Fort Lauderdale ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at City College - Fort Lauderdale is $18,615. 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 $26,295 in student loans.
City College - Fort Lauderdale is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Indian River State College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Florida list. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 2,279 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Florida who attend Indian River State College full time pay an average of $2,764 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,201. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,917 in student loans.
Indian River State College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 66% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast 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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