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Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland

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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

12 Schools Ranked
$9,875 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$15,270 Avg Student Debt*

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland ranking. Our analysis looked at 12 schools in Maryland to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in Maryland

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore, Maryland
385 Total Awards
$7,394 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Baltimore City Community College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Maryland. Baltimore City Community College is a public institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 385 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Baltimore City Community College are $7,394 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Baltimore City Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Baltimore City Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Maryland list.

Read full report on Baltimore City Community College

#2

Chesapeake College

Wye Mills, Maryland
212 Total Awards
$8,504 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent associate degree programs at Chesapeake College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Maryland. Wye Mills, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 212 students in 2021-2022.

Chesapeake College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,504 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at Chesapeake College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

1,354 Total Awards
$8,642 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 12 schools in Maryland that were part of this year’s value ranking, Prince George’s Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Largo, Maryland, the fairly large public school awarded 1,354 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at PGCC are $8,642 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,531 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Online courses are available at PGCC, 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 83% took at least some of their classes online.

PGCC also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Maryland list, coming in at #4.

Read full report on Prince George’s Community College

#4

Hagerstown Community College

Hagerstown, Maryland
599 Total Awards
$8,190 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Hagerstown Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland list. HCC is located in Hagerstown, Maryland and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 599 associate degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at HCC are $8,190 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,414 in student loans.

Online courses are available at HCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

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1,813 Total Awards
$10,062 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent associate degree programs at Community College of Baltimore County helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Maryland. This fairly large public school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 1,813 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CCBC are $10,062 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,045 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online courses are available at CCBC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 68% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, CCBC is ranked #5 for overall quality in Maryland.

Read full report on Community College of Baltimore County

#6

Wor-Wic Community College

Salisbury, Maryland
291 Total Awards
$8,280 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Wor-Wic Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Wor-Wic Community College is a small public school located in Salisbury, Maryland that handed out 291 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wor-Wic Community College are $8,280 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,988 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Wor-Wic Community College. In 2020-2021 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Wor-Wic Community College

#7

Howard Community College

Columbia, Maryland
1,273 Total Awards
$9,459 Average Tuition & Fees

Howard Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland ranking. HCC is located in Columbia, Maryland and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,273 associate degrees to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at HCC are $9,459 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,875 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

HCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

HCC also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Maryland list, coming in at #2.

Read full report on Howard Community College

#8

College of Southern Maryland

La Plata, Maryland
910 Total Awards
$9,240 Average Tuition & Fees

College of Southern Maryland came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland ranking. CSM is located in La Plata, Maryland and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 910 associate degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSM are $9,240 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,500 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that CSM does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on College of Southern Maryland

#9

Frederick Community College

Frederick, Maryland
806 Total Awards
$9,844 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Frederick Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Frederick Community College is a public institution located in Frederick, Maryland. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 806 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Frederick Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,844 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,315 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Frederick Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#10

Anne Arundel Community College

Arnold, Maryland
1,570 Total Awards
$13,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Anne Arundel Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland ranking. AACC is a public institution located in Arnold, Maryland. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,570 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

AACC undergraduate students pay an average of $13,760 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,044 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that AACC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 82% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, AACC is ranked #3 for overall quality in Maryland.

Read full report on Anne Arundel Community College

#11

Allegany College of Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland
468 Total Awards
$11,060 Average Tuition & Fees

Allegany College of Maryland landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Cumberland, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 468 students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Allegany College of Maryland are $11,060 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,028 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Allegany College of Maryland. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 50% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#12

Montgomery College

Rockville, Maryland
2,778 Total Awards
$14,061 Average Tuition & Fees

Montgomery College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Maryland list. Located in Rockville, Maryland, the fairly large public school awarded 2,778 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Montgomery College are $14,061 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,263 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Montgomery College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 32% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

View Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

References

  • 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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