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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. 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 Kansas ranking. This report analyzed 21 schools in Kansas to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in Kansas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Kansas State University to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Kansas. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $10,448 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend K -State. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $26,519.
Online courses are available at K -State, 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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Flint Hills Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas list. 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.
Flint Hills Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Out of the 21 schools in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Kansas landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Topeka, Kansas, the very small private for-profit school awarded 233 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,958 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Kansas. 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 $21,089 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Kansas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Johnson County Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. JCCC is a public institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,631 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,784 in tuition and fees if they attend JCCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,472. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,857 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since JCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 21 schools in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Newman University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Newman University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $34,400. 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 $16,846 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Newman University does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Washburn University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas list. Washburn University is a medium-sized public school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 227 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend Washburn University full time pay an average of $9,126 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $20,130. Associate Degree recipients from Washburn University accumulate an average of $18,245 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Washburn University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Hutchinson Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in Hutchinson, Kansas, the small public school awarded 814 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Hutchinson Community College is $3,600. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,530. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,571 in student loans.
Hutchinson Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas list. Located in Kansas City, Kansas, the small public school handed out 495 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $3,164 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kansas City Kansas Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,244. On average, associate degree students take out $12,302 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Kansas City Kansas Community College does offer online classes in some areas. 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.
Grantham University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas ranking. Grantham University is a medium-sized public school located in LIttle Rock, Arkansas that handed out 469 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Grantham University, expect to pay an average of $8,280 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Grantham University accumulate an average of $20,802 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Grantham University is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Salina Area Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in Salina, Kansas, the very small public school awarded 54 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Salina Tech, expect to pay an average of $7,320 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 $11,557 in student loans.
Salina Tech 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 29% took at least some of their classes online.
Neosho County Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas ranking. Chanute, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 289 students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Neosho County Community College, expect to pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $9,521 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Neosho County Community College. In fact, around 39% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
North Central Kansas Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Beloit, Kansas is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 92 students in 2021-2022.
North Central Kansas Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $8,492. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that North Central Kansas Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 15% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #13, Manhattan Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. MATC is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 83 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,400 to cover tuition and fees at MATC. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $12,904 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MATC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 18% took at least some of their classes online.
Barton County Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas ranking. This small public school is located in Great Bend, Kansas, and it awarded 584 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Barton Community College is $3,840. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,608. On average, associate degree students take out $12,035 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Barton 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 69% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #15, Seward County Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Liberal, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 175 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SCCC is $3,744. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,928. Associate Degree recipients from SCCC accumulate an average of $6,777 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 SCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.
Labette Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Parsons, Kansas, the small public school handed out 204 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend Labette Community College full time pay an average of $3,968 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,768. On average, associate degree students take out $11,942 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Labette Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northwest Kansas Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas list. Located in Goodland, Kansas, the very small public school awarded 122 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NWKTC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. WSU Tech is located in Wichita, Kansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 315 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $5,715 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WSU Tech. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,578. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,280 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that WSU Tech does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Coffeyville 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 #19 on the list. Located in Coffeyville, Kansas, the small public school handed out 219 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend Coffeyville Community College full time pay an average of $3,040 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,608. On average, associate degree students take out $7,610 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Coffeyville Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 25% took at least some of their classes online.
Butler Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas ranking. El Dorado, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,047 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend Butler CC full time pay an average of $4,210 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,010. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,666 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Butler CC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Dodge City Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Kansas list. Dodge City Community College is a small public school situated in Dodge City, Kansas. It awarded 204 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,530 in tuition and fees if they attend Dodge City Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,890.
Online courses are available at Dodge City Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 21 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.