2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 95 schools in the Plains States 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 Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Waldorf University the best school in the Plains States Region for trade school students working on their associate degree. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 116 students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Waldorf, expect to pay an average of $24,526 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Waldorf accumulate an average of $15,988 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Waldorf does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 69% 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 Bismarck State College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the small public school awarded 759 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from North Dakota who attend BSC full time pay an average of $5,143 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,227. Associate Degree recipients from BSC accumulate an average of $12,985 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at BSC. In fact, around 65% 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 Ranken Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 403 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $16,960 to cover tuition and fees at Ranken Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $12,617 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Ranken Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rockhurst University is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 29 students in 2021-2022.
Rockhurst does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $41,701. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $9,940 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rockhurst does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 45% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 95 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 337 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at ATCC is $6,107. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $13,721 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that ATCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
St Catherine 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 #6 on the list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 245 students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend St. Kate’s, expect to pay an average of $37,494 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from St. Kate’s accumulate an average of $20,415 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at St. Kate’s. In 2020-2021 about 56% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Dunwoody College 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 #7 on the list. Dunwoody College of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 316 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $24,611 to cover tuition and fees at Dunwoody College of Technology. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Dunwoody College of Technology accumulate an average of $15,809 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Dunwoody College of Technology. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
North Dakota State College of Science came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 501 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from North Dakota pay an average of $5,880 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend North Dakota State College of Science. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,879. Associate Degree recipients from North Dakota State College of Science accumulate an average of $13,866 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Dakota State College of Science. During the 2020-2021 year, about 29% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #9, Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Watertown, South Dakota, the small public school awarded 514 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at LATI is $6,718. 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 $13,775 in student loans.
Online courses are available at LATI, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - North Dakota came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a private for-profit institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 210 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Rasmussen University - North Dakota does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $12,285. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - North Dakota accumulate an average of $21,089 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Rasmussen University - North Dakota, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southeast Technical College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Southeast Tech is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 522 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,650 to cover tuition and fees at Southeast Tech. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Southeast Tech accumulate an average of $16,094 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Southeast Tech does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. St. Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 1,328 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,765 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Minnesota. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $21,089 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 690 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Rochester Community and Technical College is $5,670. 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 $18,059 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Rochester Community and Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
Kansas State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. K -State is a fairly large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 20 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at K -State is $10,448. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $26,519.
K -State 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 44% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Anoka Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Anoka, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 187 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Anoka Technical College is $6,075. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Anoka Technical College accumulate an average of $17,947 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Anoka Technical College. In 2020-2021 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Flint Hills Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Flint Hills Technical College is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 85 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $6,932 to cover tuition and fees at Flint Hills Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Flint Hills Technical College accumulate an average of $9,240 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Flint Hills Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 45% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - Kansas 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 #17 on the list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 233 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Kansas is $13,958. 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 $21,089 in student loans.
Rasmussen University - Kansas does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 92% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Johnson County Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,631 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend JCCC full time pay an average of $2,784 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,472. On average, associate degree students take out $13,857 in loans while pursuing their degree.
JCCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ridgewater College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Willmar, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 548 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $6,114 to cover tuition and fees at Ridgewater College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Ridgewater College accumulate an average of $14,925 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Ridgewater College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is a public institution located in Sheldon, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 211 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northwest Iowa Community College is $6,870. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,170. Associate Degree recipients from Northwest Iowa Community College accumulate an average of $11,532 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Northwest Iowa Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.
South Dakota State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 105 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,299 in tuition and fees if they attend South Dakota State full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,809. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,834 in student loans.
South Dakota State 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, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
State Technical College of Missouri came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Linn, Missouri, the small public school handed out 615 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $7,440 in tuition and fees if they attend STC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $13,320. Associate Degree recipients from STC accumulate an average of $10,706 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at STC. In fact, around 28% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
St Cloud Technical and 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 #23 on the list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 735 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
St Cloud Technical and Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,075. This amount may 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 $15,759 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since St Cloud Technical and Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #24, Newman University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Newman University is located in Wichita, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 31 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Newman University is $34,400. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Newman University accumulate an average of $16,846 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Newman University 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 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Mitchell Technical College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This small public school is located in Mitchell, South Dakota, and it awarded 303 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,524 to cover tuition and fees at Mitchell Tech. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $13,352 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Mitchell Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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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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