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2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri
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 Missouri ranking. This report analyzed 19 schools in Missouri 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 Missouri
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ranken Technical College the best school in Missouri for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 403 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Ranken Technical College, expect to pay an average of $16,960 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 $12,617 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Ranken Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Rockhurst University is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 29 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $41,701 to cover tuition and fees at Rockhurst. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Rockhurst accumulate an average of $9,940 in student debt by the time they complete 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.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means State Technical College of Missouri is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Linn, Missouri, the small public school awarded 615 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $7,440 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend STC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,320. On average, associate degree students take out $10,706 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since STC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 28% 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 Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $27,140 to cover tuition and fees at CMU CLAS. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Full Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Report
Out of the 19 schools in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri Southern State University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Joplin, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 135 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,834 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Missouri Southern. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,899 students in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $12,682 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
MCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
State Fair 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 #7 on the list. Located in Sedalia, Missouri, the small public school awarded 608 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,112 in tuition and fees if they attend State Fair Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,648. Associate Degree recipients from State Fair Community College accumulate an average of $16,257 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
State Fair Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Jefferson College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list. JeffCo is located in Hillsboro, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 563 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend JeffCo. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,980. Associate Degree recipients from JeffCo accumulate an average of $11,735 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at JeffCo. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #9, Columbia College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 600 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri accumulate an average of $25,680 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Columbia College Missouri 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 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Saint Louis Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Bridgeton, Missouri, and it awarded 1,981 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $5,130 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Saint Louis Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,990. On average, associate degree students take out $9,816 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Saint Louis Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 40% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southwest Baptist University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Southwest Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Bolivar, Missouri that handed out 156 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Southwest Baptist University is $26,970. 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 Southwest Baptist University accumulate an average of $16,582 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Southwest Baptist 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
St Charles Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Located in Cottleville, Missouri, the medium-sized public school handed out 851 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,430 in tuition and fees if they attend SCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,080. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,855 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
East Central College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Located in Union, Missouri, the small public school awarded 427 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Missouri who attend East Central College full time pay an average of $4,584 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,360. Associate Degree recipients from East Central College accumulate an average of $16,426 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at East Central College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. OTC is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,490 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $5,216 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend OTC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,368. On average, associate degree students take out $16,228 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that OTC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 53% took at least some of their classes online.
Mineral Area College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Park Hills, Missouri, the small public school awarded 471 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MAC is $5,650. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,210. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,715 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that MAC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
North Central Missouri College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. NCMC is a public institution located in Trenton, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 312 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NCMC is $6,240. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,350. Associate Degree recipients from NCMC accumulate an average of $13,197 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NCMC. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bryan 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 #17 on the list. Bryan University is a very small private for-profit school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 40 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $15,782 to cover tuition and fees at Bryan University. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $20,281 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Since Bryan University 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.
Crowder College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list. Crowder College is a public institution located in Neosho, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 743 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Crowder College is $5,616. 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 $11,427 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Crowder College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 38% took at least some of their classes online.
Three Rivers College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the small public school awarded 424 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $6,600 to cover tuition and fees at Three Rivers College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $13,103 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Three Rivers College 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.
Best Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 19 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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