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Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region

390 Schools Ranked
$40,123 Average Earnings
$29,897 Avg Student Debt

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 390 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, Alabama
5,998 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best school in the Southeast Region for trade school students working on their degree. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5,998 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Columbia Southern University

#2

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
7,469 Total Awards

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Clemson University is a great place for trade school students. Clemson is a large public school situated in Clemson, South Carolina. It awarded 7,469 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Clemson University Report

1,567 Total Awards

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a great place for trade school students. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and it awarded 1,567 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#4

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia
7,682 Total Awards

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Kennesaw State University is a great place for trade school students. Located in Kennesaw, Georgia, the large public school awarded 7,682 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#5

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky
2,172 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Murray State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Murray, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,172 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Murray State University

#6

Herzing University - Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia
275 Total Awards

Herzing University - Atlanta did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. Herzing University - Atlanta is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 275 degrees in 2021-2022.

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4,205 Total Awards

With a ranking of #7, Rasmussen University - Florida did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in Ocala, Florida that handed out 4,205 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#8

Herzing University - Kenner

Metairie, Louisiana
122 Total Awards

Herzing University - Kenner came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Metairie, Louisiana, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 122 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#9

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
6,984 Total Awards

East Carolina University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. ECU is a large public school situated in Greenville, North Carolina. It awarded 6,984 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#10

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
5,530 Total Awards

James Madison University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. This large public school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 5,530 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full James Madison University Report

14,285 Total Awards

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 14,285 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of South Florida - Main Campus

#12

Herzing University - Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama
245 Total Awards

Herzing University - Birmingham ranked #12 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 245 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Herzing University - Birmingham

#13

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
9,997 Total Awards

With a ranking of #13, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 9,997 degrees in 2021-2022.

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3,257 Total Awards

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 3,257 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Report

5,011 Total Awards

Bluegrass Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Lexington, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,011 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College

#16

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
18,084 Total Awards

University of Florida landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Gainesville, Florida, the large public school awarded 18,084 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#17

Danville Community College

Danville, Virginia
779 Total Awards

Danville Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Danville Community College is a small public school located in Danville, Virginia that handed out 779 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Danville Community College Report

#18

University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive, North Carolina
649 Total Awards

University of Mount Olive ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Mount Olive, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 649 students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Mount Olive Report

#19

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia
7,707 Total Awards

Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. This large public school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 7,707 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Virginia Commonwealth University Report

#20

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, Virginia
5,241 Total Awards

Old Dominion University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,241 students in 2021-2022.

Full Old Dominion University Report

#21

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia
2,543 Total Awards

Augusta University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Augusta University is a public institution located in Augusta, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,543 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Augusta University Report

#22

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia
2,845 Total Awards

Mercer University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Mercer is a private not-for-profit institution located in Macon, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,845 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Mercer University Report

#23

South University, Montgomery

Montgomery, Alabama
93 Total Awards

South University, Montgomery came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, the very small private for-profit school handed out 93 degrees in 2021-2022.

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18,426 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, Florida International University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This large public school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 18,426 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Florida International University

#25

University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida
6,348 Total Awards

University of Miami did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. U Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,348 degrees to qualified students.

Full University of Miami Report

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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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