2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one 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.
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 New York ranking. This report analyzed 47 schools in New York to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for trade school students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in New York
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Hostos Community College the best value school in New York for trade school students working on their associate degree. Hostos Community College is a small public school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 921 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Hostos undergraduate students pay an average of $8,088 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,429 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Hostos does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Hostos did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New York list.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Kingsborough Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Kingsborough Community College is a fairly large public school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 1,749 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at KCC are $8,132 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,917 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since KCC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, KCC also is in the top 15% of our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New York ranking.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bronx Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. Located in Bronx, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,152 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BCC are $8,086 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,352 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BCC. In 2020-2021 about 93% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Dutchess Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. Located in Poughkeepsie, New York, the medium-sized public school handed out 811 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DCC are $9,774 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,428 in loans while pursuing their degree.
DCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Borough of Manhattan Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. This fairly large public school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 3,971 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BMCC are $8,050 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,836 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BMCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Nassau Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Nassau Community College is a public institution located in Garden City, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,247 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Nassau Community College are $12,130 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,890 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Nassau Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Nassau Community College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New York list.
LaGuardia Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. LaGuardia is located in Long Island City, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,562 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LaGuardia are $8,098 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $8,523 in loans while pursuing their degree.
LaGuardia does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
SUNY Broome did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. SUNY Broome is a medium-sized public school located in Binghamton, New York that handed out 680 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SUNY Broome are $11,984 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,343 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SUNY Broome does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SUNY Broome also is in the top 20% of our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New York ranking.
Orange County Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. This small public school is located in Middletown, New York, and it awarded 709 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
SUNY Orange undergraduate students pay an average of $11,806 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,570 in loans while pursuing their degree.
SUNY Orange does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 83% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Selden, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 2,922 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Suffolk County Community College are $11,740 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,363 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Suffolk County Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #11, Queensborough Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Bayside, New York, and it awarded 1,863 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at QCC are $8,090 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,978 in student loans.
Online courses are available at QCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Jefferson Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. This small public school is located in Watertown, New York, and it awarded 354 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Jefferson Community College are $5,832 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,541 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Jefferson Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. Hudson Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Troy, New York that handed out 1,310 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
HVCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,818 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,714 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that HVCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Genesee Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Batavia, New York, the small public school handed out 539 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GCC are $6,040 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,106 in student loans.
Online courses are available at GCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 44% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Niagara County Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Sanborn, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 701 students in 2021-2022.
Niagara County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,205 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,388 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Niagara County Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Onondaga Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Syracuse, New York, and it awarded 887 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OCC are $11,080 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,909 in loans while pursuing their degree.
OCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 18% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Finger Lakes Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Canandaigua, New York, and it awarded 542 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Finger Lakes Community College are $6,946 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,313 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Finger Lakes Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 46% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Country Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. This small public school is located in Saranac Lake, New York, and it awarded 162 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Country Community College are $13,734 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,327 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at North Country Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Jamestown Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Jamestown, New York, the small public school awarded 507 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Jamestown Community College are $11,750 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,330 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Jamestown Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 37% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Mohawk Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in Utica, New York, the medium-sized public school awarded 657 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MVCC are $8,211 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,709 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MVCC. In 2020-2021 about 50% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Monroe Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 1,390 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Monroe Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,468 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,020 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Monroe Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Excelsior University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Excelsior University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Albany, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,240 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Excelsior University undergraduate students pay an average of $0 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,110 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Excelsior University. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Excelsior University also took the #1 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New York rankings.
Herkimer County Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York list. Herkimer College is located in Herkimer, New York and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 274 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Herkimer College are $5,776 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,043 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Herkimer College, 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 45% took at least some of their classes online.
Erie Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in New York ranking. Erie Community College is located in Buffalo, New York and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,364 associate degrees to qualified students.
Erie Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,150 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,690 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Erie Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 38% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Farmingdale State College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Farmingdale State College is a medium-sized public school located in Farmingdale, New York that handed out 250 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale undergraduate students pay an average of $18,486 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,334 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
In addition to its great value ranking, SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in New York list.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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