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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.
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Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in Missouri
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Ranken Technical College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Missouri. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 403 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Ranken Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $16,960. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Ranken Technical College accumulate an average of $12,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students 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.
Out of the 19 schools in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Rockhurst University landed the # 2 spot on the list. 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. Associate Degree recipients from Rockhurst accumulate an average of $9,940 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Rockhurst, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 45% 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 State Technical College of Missouri is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. STC is a small public school situated in Linn, Missouri. It awarded 615 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Missouri who attend STC full time pay an average of $7,440 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,320. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,706 in student loans.
Online courses are available at STC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 28% 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 Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list. Located in Fayette, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 associate degree awards 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.
Read full report on Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Missouri Southern State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri 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.
You may have the opportunity 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.
With a ranking of #6, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is a fairly large public school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 1,899 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $12,682 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MCC. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
State Fair Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Sedalia, Missouri, the small public school awarded 608 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $5,112 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend State Fair Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,648. On average, associate degree students take out $16,257 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at State Fair 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 74% took at least some of their classes online.
Jefferson College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. JeffCo is a public institution located in Hillsboro, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 563 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Missouri who attend JeffCo full time pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees. 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.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since JeffCo does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 56% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Columbia College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 600 associate degree awards 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.
One thing to take note of is that Columbia College Missouri does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Saint Louis Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list. Located in Bridgeton, Missouri, the fairly large public school handed out 1,981 associate degree awards 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,990. Associate Degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College accumulate an average of $9,816 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Saint Louis 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 40% took at least some of their classes online.
Southwest Baptist 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 #11 on the list. Located in Bolivar, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 156 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Southwest Baptist University, expect to pay an average of $26,970 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 $16,582 in student loans.
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. In fact, around 43% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #12, St Charles Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Cottleville, Missouri, the medium-sized public school handed out 851 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $5,430 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,080. On average, associate degree students take out $9,855 in loans while pursuing their degree.
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 landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. East Central College is a small public school located in Union, Missouri that handed out 427 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at East Central College is $4,584. Out-of-state students 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
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. Located in Springfield, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 1,490 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at OTC is $5,216. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,368. On average, associate degree students take out $16,228 in loans while pursuing their degree.
OTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Mineral Area College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. This small public school is located in Park Hills, Missouri, and it awarded 471 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MAC is $5,650. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,210. Associate Degree recipients from MAC accumulate an average of $10,715 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MAC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
North Central Missouri 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 #16 on the list. Located in Trenton, Missouri, the small public school handed out 312 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,240 in tuition and fees if they attend NCMC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,350. On average, associate degree students take out $13,197 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NCMC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bryan University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Bryan University is a very small private for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 40 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Bryan University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,782. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Bryan University accumulate an average of $20,281 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Bryan University is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Crowder College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Crowder College is a small public school situated in Neosho, Missouri. 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,427 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Crowder College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 38% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #19, Three Rivers College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Three Rivers College is a small public school located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri that handed out 424 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Three Rivers College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,600. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Three Rivers College accumulate an average of $13,103 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 Three Rivers College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
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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