Find Trade Colleges
2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee
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. 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 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 Tennessee ranking. This report analyzed 18 schools in Tennessee 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.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Jackson State Community College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Tennessee. This small public school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 532 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JSCC are $18,076 per year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at JSCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
JSCC also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list, coming in at #1.
The excellent associate degree programs at Motlow State Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Tennessee. Motlow is a public institution located in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 967 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Motlow are $17,232 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $3,554 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Motlow. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Motlow did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Volunteer State Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Gallatin, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,201 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at VSCC are $17,220 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,049 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that VSCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
VSCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwest Tennessee Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 926 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Southwest undergraduate students pay an average of $17,246 in tuition and fees each year.
Southwest does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southwest did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee list.
Out of the 18 schools in Tennessee that were part of this year’s value ranking, Walters State Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. WSCC is a public institution located in Morristown, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 932 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
WSCC undergraduate students pay an average of $17,215 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $4,796 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at WSCC. 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.
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Chattanooga State Community College is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,163 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chattanooga State Community College are $17,246 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,604 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Chattanooga State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Roane State 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 #7 on the list. Roane State Community College is a small public school located in Harriman, Tennessee that handed out 850 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Roane State Community College are $17,540 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,564 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Roane State Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Nashville State Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 951 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Nashville State Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,188 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,983 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Nashville State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.
Northeast State 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. Northeast State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Blountville, Tennessee that handed out 868 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Northeast State Technical Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,238 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $5,286 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Northeast State Technical Community College. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Columbia State Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Columbia, Tennessee, the small public school handed out 934 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia State Community College are $17,260 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,670 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Columbia State Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Dyersburg State Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Dyersburg, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 407 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DSCC are $17,226 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $7,185 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at DSCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #12, Pellissippi State Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Pellissippi State Community College is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,415 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pellissippi State Community College are $17,272 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $9,776 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Pellissippi State Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Cleveland State Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Cleveland State Community College is a small public school situated in Cleveland, Tennessee. It awarded 449 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cleveland State Community College are $17,216 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,386 in student loans.
Cleveland State 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 50% took at least some of their classes online.
Remington College - Memphis Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 41 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Remington College - Memphis Campus are $19,964 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,194 in student loans.
Remington College - Memphis Campus 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 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Remington College - Memphis Campus also took the #3 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Tennessee rankings.
Southern Adventist University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Collegedale, Tennessee, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 136 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Southern Adventist undergraduate students pay an average of $23,870 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,339 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Southern Adventist does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 39% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Daymar College - Clarksville did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Daymar College - Clarksville is a very small private for-profit school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 87 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Daymar College - Clarksville are $20,110 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,172 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Daymar College - Clarksville, 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, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Daymar College - Nashville landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 6 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Daymar College - Nashville undergraduate students pay an average of $22,225 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,260 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Daymar College - Murfreesboro 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 #18 on the list. Daymar College - Murfreesboro is a very small private for-profit school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 3 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Daymar College - Murfreesboro undergraduate students pay an average of $22,851 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,172 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
View Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
More Tennessee Rankings
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.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.