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 2023 rankings named North Shore Community College the best value school in Massachusetts for trade school students working on their associate degree. North Shore Community College is a public institution located in Danvers, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 734 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
North Shore Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,920 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,225 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that North Shore Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
North Shore Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list.
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. This small public school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 719 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
STCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,728 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,676 in student loans.
STCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
STCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list.
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. BHCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 1,125 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BHCC are $10,224 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,644 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that BHCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 96% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at Mount Wachusett Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Massachusetts. MWCC is located in Gardner, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 540 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MWCC are $10,680 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,600 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at MWCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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. West Barnstable, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 348 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cape Cod Community College are $10,536 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,292 in student loans.
Cape Cod 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. In 2020-2021 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #6, Massachusetts Bay Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, and it awarded 395 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
MassBay Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,320 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $8,333 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MassBay Community College 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.
With a ranking of #7, Roxbury Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Roxbury Community College is located in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 133 associate degrees to qualified students.
Roxbury Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,088 in tuition and fees each year.
Roxbury Community College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
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 a public institution located in Brockton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 739 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Massasoit Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,320 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,174 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 Massasoit Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #9, Middlesex Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Middlesex Community College is a public institution located in Bedford, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 727 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Middlesex Community College are $12,170 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,676 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Middlesex Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Bristol Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Bristol is a public institution located in Fall River, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 904 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Bristol undergraduate students pay an average of $10,224 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,022 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Bristol 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, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Northern Essex Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. NECC is a public institution located in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 470 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NECC are $11,472 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,741 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that NECC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Berkshire 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 #12 on the list. BCC is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 188 associate degrees to qualified students.
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.
One thing to take note of is that BCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 69% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #13, Quinsigamond Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school handed out 898 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Quinsigamond Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,774 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,562 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Quinsigamond Community College. In 2020-2021 about 41% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Holyoke 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. Holyoke, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 555 students in 2021-2022.
Holyoke Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,514 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,235 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Holyoke Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Quincy 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 #15 on the list. Quincy College is a small public school situated in Quincy, Massachusetts. It awarded 301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Quincy College are $7,344 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,248 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 Quincy College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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. University of Massachusetts - Lowell is a fairly large public school located in Lowell, Massachusetts that handed out 32 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
UMass Lowell undergraduate students pay an average of $34,550 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,551 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UMass Lowell. In 2020-2021 about 28% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bay State College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. This very small private for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 76 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Bay State College undergraduate students pay an average of $29,500 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,802 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 Bay State College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bay State College also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts list, coming in at #1.
Fisher College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Fisher College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 41 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Fisher College undergraduate students pay an average of $34,150 in tuition and fees each 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. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Fisher College also took the #3 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Massachusetts rankings.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region
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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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