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Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

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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 a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 389 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Ottawa University - Phoenix

#2

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
20,117 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large public school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 20,117 degrees in 2021-2022.

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17,432 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. This large public school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 17,432 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#4

Panola College

Carthage, Texas
897 Total Awards

Out of the 135 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Panola College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Carthage, Texas, the small public school handed out 897 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Panola College

555 Total Awards

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott is a great place for trade school students. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Prescott, Arizona, and it awarded 555 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#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. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. El Centro College is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,913 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full El Centro College Report

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.

Full Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus Report

#9

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
29,319 Total Awards

Grand Canyon University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 29,319 degrees to qualified students.

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#10

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
14,649 Total Awards

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. ASU - Skysong is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14,649 degrees in 2021-2022.

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20,988 Total Awards

With a ranking of #11, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This large public school is located in Tempe, Arizona, 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. Coolidge, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,048 students in 2021-2022.

Full Central Arizona College Report

#13

University of Phoenix - Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona
26,013 Total Awards

University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large private for-profit school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 26,013 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Report

#14

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
1,987 Total Awards

University of the Incarnate Word came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,987 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of the Incarnate Word Report

#15

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
11,858 Total Awards

University of Arizona landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. University of Arizona is a large public school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 11,858 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Arizona

#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 small public school situated in Galveston, Texas. It awarded 677 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Galveston College Report

682 Total Awards

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma that handed out 682 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Report

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 a very small private not-for-profit school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 246 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Remington College - Dallas Campus Report

2,555 Total Awards

Texas State Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 2,555 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Texas State Technical College Report

#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. NTCC is a small public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Texas. It awarded 705 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Northeast Texas Community College

7,702 Total Awards

The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large public school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 7,702 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Report

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.

Read full report on Estrella Mountain Community College

#23

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
3,677 Total Awards

Lee College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Lee College is a medium-sized public school situated in Baytown, Texas. It awarded 3,677 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lee College

#24

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
10,852 Total Awards

University of Houston ranked #24 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Houston, Texas, the large public school awarded 10,852 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#25

Hallmark University

San Antonio, Texas
356 Total Awards

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

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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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