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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 Texas ranking. Our analysis looked at 51 schools in Texas 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 Texas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Panola College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Texas. Located in Carthage, Texas, the small public school handed out 348 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,840 in tuition and fees if they attend Panola College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,896.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Panola College. In fact, around 71% 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 El Centro College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. This large public school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 7,626 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $15,059 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at El Centro College. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Northeast Texas Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. NTCC is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 408 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $5,009 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NTCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,449. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,117 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that NTCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Lee College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Texas. Located in Baytown, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,267 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $3,882 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lee College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,302. Associate Degree recipients from Lee College accumulate an average of $10,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lee College. 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.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Weatherford College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Weatherford College is a public institution located in Weatherford, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 741 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $6,300 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Weatherford College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,610. On average, associate degree students take out $11,867 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Weatherford College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Hallmark University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. Hallmark is located in San Antonio, Texas and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 148 associate degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,931 in student loans.
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 2020-2021 about 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Texas State Technical 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 #7 on the list. Texas State Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 1,443 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,554 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that TSTC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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 #8 on the list. Located in Beaumont, Texas, the small public school handed out 586 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $2,844 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lamar Institute of Technology. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,636. On average, associate degree students take out $13,457 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lamar Institute of Technology. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.
Galveston 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 #9 on the list. Located in Galveston, Texas, the small public school handed out 349 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Galveston College full time pay an average of $3,266 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,726. On average, associate degree students take out $12,575 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Galveston College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Victoria College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. Victoria College is located in Victoria, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 347 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Victoria College is $4,056. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,112. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,658 in student loans.
Victoria 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Remington College - Dallas Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas ranking. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 36 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,655 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, Remington College - Dallas Campus is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Temple 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 #12 on the list. Temple College is located in Temple, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 660 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Temple College is $4,656. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,576. On average, associate degree students take out $14,725 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Temple College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
South Texas 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 #13 on the list. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 3,702 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Some students may be able to take online classes at South Texas College. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Austin Community College District ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. Austin Community College District is located in Austin, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,621 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Austin Community College District is $8,580. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,590. On average, associate degree students take out $13,045 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Austin Community College District. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Alvin Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Alvin, Texas, and it awarded 778 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Alvin full time pay an average of $2,834 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,010. On average, associate degree students take out $6,112 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Alvin does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Tarrant County College District 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 #16 on the list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the large public school awarded 5,819 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $13,880 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Tarrant County College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.
The University of Texas at Brownsville ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. The University of Texas at Brownsville is a public institution located in Brownsville, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,102 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at The University of Texas at Brownsville is $3,748. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,948. Associate Degree recipients from The University of Texas at Brownsville accumulate an average of $11,404 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 The University of Texas at Brownsville 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.
Remington College - Fort Worth Campus 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 #18 on the list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 26 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,898 in student loans.
Remington College - Fort Worth 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.
With a ranking of #19, Navarro College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Corsicana, Texas, and it awarded 906 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $4,508 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Navarro College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,368. On average, associate degree students take out $14,152 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Navarro College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.
Del Mar College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 1,324 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $4,880 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend DMC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,990. On average, associate degree students take out $6,385 in loans while pursuing their degree.
DMC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Lone Star College System came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas ranking. North Harris Montgomery is a large public school situated in The Woodlands, Texas. It awarded 8,774 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $11,735 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Harris Montgomery. In fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Midland College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Midland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 468 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Midland College full time pay an average of $4,650 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,880. On average, associate degree students take out $15,234 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Midland 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 52% took at least some of their classes online.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This large public school is located in Pasadena, Texas, and it awarded 5,788 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,614 in student loans.
San Jacinto College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Wharton County Junior College is located in Wharton, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 580 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $3,804 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wharton County Junior College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,052. Associate Degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College accumulate an average of $11,556 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 Wharton County Junior College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Houston Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. Houston Community College is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 5,387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,344 in tuition and fees if they attend Houston Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,460. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,178 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Houston Community 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 77% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest 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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