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Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

2023 Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

135 Schools Ranked
$41,904 Average Earnings
$25,720 Avg Student Debt

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 135 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

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

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Ottawa University - Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona
389 Total Awards

Our analysis found Ottawa University - Phoenix to be the best school for trade school students in the Southwest Region . Ottawa University - Phoenix is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 389 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Ottawa University - Phoenix

#2

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
20,117 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 20,117 students in 2021-2022.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Report

17,432 Total Awards

The excellent programs at The University of Texas at Austin helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in the Southwest Region . Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 17,432 students in 2021-2022.

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#4

Panola College

Carthage, Texas
897 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Panola College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in the Southwest Region . This small public school is located in Carthage, Texas, and it awarded 897 degrees in 2021-2022.

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555 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Embry-Riddle Prescott is located in Prescott, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 555 degrees to qualified students.

Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Report

#6

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
1,387 Total Awards

MSU Texas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Wichita Falls, Texas, and it awarded 1,387 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full MSU Texas Report

#7

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas
10,913 Total Awards

El Centro College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large public school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 10,913 degrees in 2021-2022.

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1,342 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. ENMU - Main Campus is located in Portales, New Mexico and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,342 degrees to qualified students.

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#9

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
29,319 Total Awards

Grand Canyon University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school handed out 29,319 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Grand Canyon University Report

#10

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
14,649 Total Awards

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. ASU - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 14,649 degrees in 2021-2022.

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20,988 Total Awards

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20,988 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Arizona State University - Tempe

#12

Central Arizona College

Coolidge, Arizona
1,048 Total Awards

Central Arizona College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Pinal County Community College is a small public school situated in Coolidge, Arizona. It awarded 1,048 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#13

University of Phoenix - Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona
26,013 Total Awards

University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 26,013 students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Report

#14

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
1,987 Total Awards

With a ranking of #14, University of the Incarnate Word did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,987 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of the Incarnate Word

#15

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
11,858 Total Awards

University of Arizona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11,858 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#16

Galveston College

Galveston, Texas
677 Total Awards

Galveston College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. Galveston College is a public institution located in Galveston, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 677 degrees in 2021-2022.

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682 Total Awards

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. OSU Institute of Technology is a small public school situated in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. It awarded 682 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology

246 Total Awards

Remington College - Dallas Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Remington College - Dallas Campus is located in Dallas, Texas and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 246 degrees to qualified students.

Full Remington College - Dallas Campus Report

2,555 Total Awards

Texas State Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Waco, Texas, the fairly large public school handed out 2,555 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Texas State Technical College

#20

Northeast Texas Community College

Mount Pleasant, Texas
705 Total Awards

Northeast Texas Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Mount Pleasant, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 705 students in 2021-2022.

Full Northeast Texas Community College Report

7,702 Total Awards

With a ranking of #21, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 7,702 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on The University of Texas at San Antonio

2,334 Total Awards

Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Avondale, Arizona, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,334 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Estrella Mountain Community College Report

#23

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
3,677 Total Awards

Lee College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Lee College is a medium-sized public school located in Baytown, Texas that handed out 3,677 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lee College

#24

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
10,852 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, University of Houston did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Houston, Texas, the large public school handed out 10,852 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of Houston Report

#25

Hallmark University

San Antonio, Texas
356 Total Awards

With a ranking of #25, Hallmark University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 356 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Hallmark University 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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