Find Trade Colleges

Best Trade Schools in Missouri

2023 Best Trade Schools in Missouri

35 Schools Ranked
$42,322 Average Earnings
$29,114 Avg Student Debt

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.

The Best Trade Schools in Missouri ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 35 schools in Missouri to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Missouri

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Stephens College

Columbia, Missouri
152 Total Awards

Our analysis found Stephens College to be the best school for trade school students in Missouri. Stephens is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 152 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Stephens College

#2

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri
9,503 Total Awards

The excellent programs at University of Missouri - Columbia helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Missouri. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 9,503 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#3

Ranken Technical College

Saint Louis, Missouri
754 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Ranken Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Missouri. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 754 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#4

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
6,224 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Missouri list. WUSTL is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6,224 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Washington University in St Louis

#5

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri
1,079 Total Awards

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Rockhurst University is a great place for trade school students. Rockhurst is located in Kansas City, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,079 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Rockhurst University

674 Total Awards

With a ranking of #6, Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. CMU CGES is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fayette, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 674 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Report

880 Total Awards

State Technical College of Missouri landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Linn, Missouri, the small public school awarded 880 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full State Technical College of Missouri Report

#8

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
2,857 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, University of Central Missouri did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 2,857 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#9

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
3,396 Total Awards

Saint Louis University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. SLU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 3,396 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Saint Louis University Report

#10

Missouri State University - Springfield

Springfield, Missouri
5,730 Total Awards

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, the large public school handed out 5,730 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

316 Total Awards

Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 316 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#12

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
3,153 Total Awards

Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #12 on the list. Maryville U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,153 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Maryville University of Saint Louis

#13

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
3,445 Total Awards

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 3,445 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Report

#14

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
2,118 Total Awards

With a ranking of #14, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,118 degrees to qualified students.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Report

#15

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
2,052 Total Awards

Lindenwood University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 2,052 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

3,677 Total Awards

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 3,677 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

282 Total Awards

Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Fayette, Missouri, and it awarded 282 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Report

#18

Moberly Area Community College

Moberly, Missouri
862 Total Awards

Moberly Area Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Missouri list. Located in Moberly, Missouri, the medium-sized public school handed out 862 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

1,311 Total Awards

Missouri Southern State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Missouri list. Located in Joplin, Missouri, the small public school handed out 1,311 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Missouri Southern State University

#20

Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri
395 Total Awards

Avila University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Avila is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 395 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Avila University Report

#21

State Fair Community College

Sedalia, Missouri
750 Total Awards

State Fair Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. State Fair Community College is a small public school located in Sedalia, Missouri that handed out 750 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#22

Jefferson College

Hillsboro, Missouri
688 Total Awards

Jefferson College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Missouri list. Located in Hillsboro, Missouri, the small public school awarded 688 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Jefferson College Report

#23

North Central Missouri College

Trenton, Missouri
444 Total Awards

With a ranking of #23, North Central Missouri College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. NCMC is located in Trenton, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 444 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#24

St Charles Community College

Cottleville, Missouri
965 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, St Charles Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. SCC is a public institution located in Cottleville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 965 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#25

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri
794 Total Awards

Southwest Baptist University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Missouri ranking. Bolivar, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 794 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Southwest Baptist University

Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

View Best Trade Schools Nationwide >

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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.