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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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.
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 West Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in West Virginia 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 West Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Charleston the best school in West Virginia for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 153 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at UC is $21,500. 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 $14,036 in student loans.
UC 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 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pierpont Community and Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Pierpont Community and Technical College is located in Fairmont, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 377 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from West Virginia who attend Pierpont Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $5,086 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,056. Associate Degree recipients from Pierpont Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $13,153 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Pierpont Community and 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 fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in West Virginia. This very small private for-profit school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 291 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $14,102 to cover tuition and fees at WVJC Morgantown. 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 $10,989 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that WVJC Morgantown does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend West Liberty University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. West Liberty University is a small public school located in West Liberty, West Virginia that handed out 28 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,932 in student loans.
Online courses are available at West Liberty University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 40% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 17 schools in West Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It awarded 384 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,128 in tuition and fees if they attend Blue Ridge Community and Technical College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,464. On average, associate degree students take out $16,189 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Blue Ridge Community and Technical 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 37% took at least some of their classes online.
Marshall University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking. Marshall University is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 138 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,604 in tuition and fees if they attend Marshall University full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,658. On average, associate degree students take out $25,306 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Marshall University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 50% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
BridgeValley Community & Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. South Charleston, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 339 students in 2021-2022.
Students from West Virginia who attend BridgeValley Community & Technical College full time pay an average of $5,132 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,598. Associate Degree recipients from BridgeValley Community & Technical College accumulate an average of $10,721 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 BridgeValley Community & Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on BridgeValley Community & Technical College
With a ranking of #8, American Public University System did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, the large private for-profit school awarded 3,322 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend American Military University, expect to pay an average of $7,360 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $20,438 in loans while pursuing their degree.
American Military 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.
With a ranking of #9, West Virginia Junior College - Charleston did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, the very small private for-profit school handed out 79 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $14,529 to cover tuition and fees at WVJC Charleston. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $8,309 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WVJC Charleston. In 2020-2021 about 43% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on West Virginia Junior College - Charleston
Mountwest Community and Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Mountwest Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Huntington, West Virginia that handed out 228 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from MCTC accumulate an average of $9,089 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 MCTC 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.
Fairmont State 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 #11 on the list. Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 153 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,008 in tuition and fees if they attend Fairmont State full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,836. Associate Degree recipients from Fairmont State accumulate an average of $21,623 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 Fairmont State does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
West Virginia University at Parkersburg landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is located in Parkersburg, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 342 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from West Virginia who attend West Virginia University at Parkersburg full time pay an average of $4,132 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,124. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,965 in student loans.
West Virginia University at Parkersburg 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 44% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Bluefield State College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Bluefield, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 106 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,840 in tuition and fees if they attend Bluefield State College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,030. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,651 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bluefield State College. In 2020-2021 about 87% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #14, West Virginia Northern Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. WVNCC is a public institution located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 222 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from West Virginia pay an average of $4,394 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WVNCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,362. On average, associate degree students take out $11,405 in loans while pursuing their degree.
WVNCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on West Virginia Northern Community College
Mountain State College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Parkersburg, West Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,665 to cover tuition and fees at Mountain State College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Mountain State College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Southern is a small public school situated in Mount Gay, West Virginia. It awarded 306 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Southern is $4,359. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,879.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southern does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Full Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Report
With a ranking of #17, New River Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. New River Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Beaver, West Virginia. It awarded 172 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $8,782 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at New River Community and Technical 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 85% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 17 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.