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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 18 schools in Massachusetts 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.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found North Shore Community College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Massachusetts. North Shore Community College is a small public school situated in Danvers, Massachusetts. It awarded 734 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Shore Community College are $10,920 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,225 in loans while pursuing their degree.
North Shore Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Shore Community College also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list, coming in at #5.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Springfield Technical Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the small public school awarded 719 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at STCC are $10,728 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $7,676 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 STCC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, STCC is ranked #4 for overall quality in Massachusetts.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Bunker Hill Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. This medium-sized public school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,125 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
BHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,224 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,644 in student loans.
BHCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 18 schools in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s value ranking, Mount Wachusett Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Gardner, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 540 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MWCC are $10,680 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,600 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at MWCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
MWCC also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts rankings.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Cape Cod Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Cape Cod Community College is a public institution located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 348 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cape Cod Community College are $10,536 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,292 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cape Cod Community College. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Massachusetts Bay Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. MassBay Community College is located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 395 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MassBay Community College are $10,320 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,333 in student loans.
MassBay Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Roxbury Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Roxbury Community College is a small public school located in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts that handed out 133 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Roxbury Community College are $11,088 a year.
Roxbury Community College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #8, Massasoit Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Massasoit Community College is located in Brockton, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 739 associate degrees to qualified students.
Massasoit Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,320 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,174 in student loans.
Massasoit Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Middlesex 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 #9 on the list. Located in Bedford, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 727 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Middlesex Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $12,170 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $9,676 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Middlesex Community 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 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bristol Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Bristol is a medium-sized public school situated in Fall River, Massachusetts. It awarded 904 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bristol are $10,224 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,022 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Bristol, 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 98% took at least some of their classes online.
Northern Essex Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Haverhill, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 470 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NECC are $11,472 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NECC 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 95% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Berkshire Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the small public school handed out 188 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BCC are $11,108 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,282 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Quinsigamond Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 898 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Quinsigamond Community College are $10,774 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,562 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Quinsigamond Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Holyoke Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts list. Holyoke Community College is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 555 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Holyoke Community College are $10,514 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,235 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Holyoke Community 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Quincy College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Quincy, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 301 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Quincy College are $7,344 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,248 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Quincy College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #16, University of Massachusetts - Lowell did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. UMass Lowell is a public institution located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UMass Lowell are $34,550 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $21,551 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UMass Lowell does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 28% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Bay State 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. Bay State College is a very small private for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 76 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bay State College are $29,500 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $21,802 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Bay State College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Bay State College is ranked #1 for overall quality in Massachusetts.
Fisher College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Fisher College is located in Boston, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 41 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Fisher College are $34,150 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,058 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Fisher College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Fisher College also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list, coming in at #3.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 18 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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