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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.
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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.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $21,500 to cover tuition and fees at UC. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from UC accumulate an average of $14,036 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at UC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. 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. Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 377 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Pierpont Community and Technical College is $5,086. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,056. On average, associate degree students take out $13,153 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Pierpont Community and Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online 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. WVJC Morgantown is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 291 associate degrees to qualified students.
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.
The excellent associate degree programs at West Liberty University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in West Virginia. This small public school is located in West Liberty, West Virginia, and it awarded 28 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from West Liberty University accumulate an average of $23,932 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 West Liberty University does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of undergraduates took at least one course online 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. Martinsburg, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 384 students in 2021-2022.
Students from West Virginia who attend Blue Ridge Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,128 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,464. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,189 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 37% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #6, Marshall University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Marshall University is a fairly large public school located in Huntington, West Virginia that handed out 138 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from West Virginia pay an average of $8,604 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Marshall University. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,658. On average, associate degree students take out $25,306 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Marshall University does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 50% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
BridgeValley Community & Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking. BridgeValley Community & Technical College is a small public school located in South Charleston, West Virginia that handed out 339 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BridgeValley Community & Technical College is $5,132. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,598. On average, associate degree students take out $10,721 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at BridgeValley Community & Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
American Public University System came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, the large private for-profit school handed out 3,322 associate degree awards 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,438 in student loans.
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.
West Virginia Junior College - Charleston ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,309 in student loans.
Online courses are available at WVJC Charleston, 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 43% took at least some of their classes online.
Mountwest Community and Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. MCTC is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 228 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,089 in student loans.
MCTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Fairmont State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Fairmont State is a public institution located in Fairmont, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 153 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from West Virginia pay an average of $8,008 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Fairmont State. Those students who come from outside the state 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.
Fairmont State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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 a public institution located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 342 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,132 in tuition and fees if they attend West Virginia University at Parkersburg full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,124. On average, associate degree students take out $13,965 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. During the 2020-2021 year, about 44% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,030. Associate Degree recipients from Bluefield State College accumulate an average of $16,651 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able 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.
West Virginia Northern 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. Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 222 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students 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. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,362. Associate Degree recipients from WVNCC accumulate an average of $11,405 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at WVNCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
Mountain State College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Mountain State College is a private for-profit institution located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 9 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Mountain State College is $8,665. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Since Mountain State College is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Mount Gay, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 306 students in 2021-2022.
Students from West Virginia who attend Southern full time pay an average of $4,359 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,879.
One thing to take note of is that Southern does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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.
New River Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on New River Community and Technical College
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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.