2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
The Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 87 schools in the Southwest Region 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 the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Central Arizona College the best school in the Southwest Region for trade school students working on their associate degree.
On average, associate degree students take out $15,315 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Pinal County Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Panola College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $3,672 in tuition and fees if they attend Panola College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,680.
Online courses are available at Panola College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Tarleton State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southwest Region .
Students from Texas who attend Tarleton full time pay an average of $7,790 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,582. Associate Degree recipients from Tarleton accumulate an average of $23,340 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Since Tarleton 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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,961 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at El Centro College. In 2019-2020 about 92% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Northeast Texas Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NTCC is $5,009. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,449. Associate Degree recipients from NTCC accumulate an average of $18,637 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NTCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lee 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 #6 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Lee College is $3,882. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,302. Associate Degree recipients from Lee College accumulate an average of $15,284 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Lee College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #7, Weatherford College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Weatherford College is $5,700. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,800. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,268 in student loans.
Weatherford 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
Students from Oklahoma who attend OSU Institute of Technology full time pay an average of $5,774 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,384. On average, associate degree students take out $15,790 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that OSU Institute of Technology does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 90% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Hallmark 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.
On average, associate degree students take out $23,845 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Hallmark 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 2019-2020 about 76% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, Texas State Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Associate Degree recipients from TSTC accumulate an average of $16,405 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at TSTC. In 2019-2020 about 97% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Remington College - North Houston Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Associate Degree recipients from Remington College - North Houston Campus accumulate an average of $24,393 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Remington College - North Houston Campus is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Lamar Institute of Technology 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.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Lamar Institute of Technology is $2,844. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,636. On average, associate degree students take out $16,263 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Lamar Institute of Technology does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Galveston College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $2,950 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Galveston College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,200. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,605 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Galveston College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #14, Southwestern Oklahoma State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Oklahoma who attend SWOSU full time pay an average of $7,913 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,023. Associate Degree recipients from SWOSU accumulate an average of $17,974 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SWOSU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 85% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Victoria 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 #15 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $3,840 in tuition and fees if they attend Victoria College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,872. On average, associate degree students take out $14,992 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Victoria 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Remington College - Dallas Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Associate Degree recipients from Remington College - Dallas Campus accumulate an average of $25,532 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Remington College - Dallas Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
On average, associate degree students take out $25,195 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Temple College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Temple College is $4,512. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,432. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,360 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Temple College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at OCCC is $4,059. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,810. Associate Degree recipients from OCCC accumulate an average of $14,583 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
OCCC is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #20, Murray State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Oklahoma who attend Murray State College full time pay an average of $6,630 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,830. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,304 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Murray State College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
In-state students pay an average of $5,070 in tuition and fees if they attend OSU-OKC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,908. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,762 in student loans.
OSU-OKC is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Read full report on Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
South Texas College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
In-state students pay an average of $4,530 in tuition and fees if they attend South Texas College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,920. Associate Degree recipients from South Texas College accumulate an average of $8,401 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at South Texas 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
GateWay Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
Full-time students from Arizona pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend GateWay Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,854. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,336 in student loans.
GateWay 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Austin Community College District ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Austin Community College District is $8,580. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,590. On average, associate degree students take out $16,220 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Austin Community College District. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Alvin Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Alvin is $2,834. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,010. Associate Degree recipients from Alvin accumulate an average of $11,951 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Alvin, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 44% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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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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