2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
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. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This report analyzed 55 schools in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Out of the 55 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s value ranking, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology landed the # 3 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 412 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology are $8,450 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $8,889 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. LCCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. It awarded 853 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LCCC are $12,960 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,247 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that LCCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. IUP is a public institution located in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
IUP undergraduate students pay an average of $18,927 in tuition and fees each year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at IUP. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
IUP not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list.
Read full report on Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
With a ranking of #6, Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Harrisburg Area Community College is a fairly large public school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 1,788 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at HACC are $10,148 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,208 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at HACC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #7, Bucks County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school handed out 823 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Bucks County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $13,384 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,561 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bucks County Community College. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Pittsburgh - Titusville came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Pitt Titusville is located in Titusville, Pennsylvania and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pitt Titusville are $22,210 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,479 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Pitt Titusville also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Community College of Allegheny County landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. CCAC is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,027 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CCAC are $12,223 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,588 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at CCAC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Montgomery County Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,253 students in 2021-2022.
Montco undergraduate students pay an average of $15,390 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,849 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Montco. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Luzerne County Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Nanticoke, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 473 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Luzerne County Community College are $15,060 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,191 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Luzerne County Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
Butler County 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 #14 on the list. BC3 is a public institution located in Butler, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 417 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BC3 are $11,550 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,104 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BC3. During the 2020-2021 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Community College of Philadelphia 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 #15 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 1,815 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Community College of Philadelphia are $12,744 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,811 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Community College of Philadelphia. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Laurel Business Institute did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Uniontown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 64 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LBI are $11,470 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,584 in student loans.
LBI 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 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Reading Area Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. RACC is a public institution located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 464 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at RACC are $11,580 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,472 in student loans.
Online courses are available at RACC, 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 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the small public school handed out 255 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pennsylvania Highlands are $12,690 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,846 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Pennsylvania Highlands, 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 37% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Northampton County Area Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,168 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northampton Community College are $14,820 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,905 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Northampton Community College. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Northampton County Area Community College
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the small public school handed out 10 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Pitt Johnstown undergraduate students pay an average of $26,520 in tuition and fees each year.
Pitt Johnstown does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 0% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #20, Delaware County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Media, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,176 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Delaware County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $14,400 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,635 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Delaware County Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Pennsylvania College of Technology did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the small public school handed out 711 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Penn College are $25,680 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $20,551 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Penn College. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Central Penn 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 #23 on the list. Central Penn is a very small private for-profit school situated in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. It awarded 119 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Central Penn undergraduate students pay an average of $19,404 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,442 in student loans.
Central Penn 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Central Penn also did well on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Pitt is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 19 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pitt are $37,320 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,903 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Pitt does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 19% took at least some of their classes online.
Pitt excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list.
Pittsburgh Technical College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Pittsburgh Technical College is located in Oakdale, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 520 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pittsburgh Technical College are $16,974 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,250 in student loans.
Pittsburgh Technical College 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 32% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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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