2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
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 Virginia ranking. This report analyzed 23 schools in Virginia 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. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees 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 Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Danville Community College the best value school in Virginia for trade school students working on their associate degree. Danville Community College is a small public school located in Danville, Virginia that handed out 210 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Danville Community College are $10,728 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,262 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Danville Community College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Danville Community College also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Virginia list, coming in at #1.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Reynolds Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. This medium-sized public school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 1,104 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Reynolds Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,001 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,943 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 Reynolds Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Thomas Nelson Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. TNCC is located in Hampton, Virginia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 809 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at TNCC are $10,809 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,524 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 TNCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
TNCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Virginia list.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Wytheville Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Wytheville, Virginia, the small public school handed out 272 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCC are $10,728 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,399 in student loans.
WCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Northern Virginia Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Virginia. This large public school is located in Annandale, Virginia, and it awarded 5,692 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Northern Virginia Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,648 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,263 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Northern Virginia 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 63% took at least some of their classes online.
Northern Virginia Community College also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Virginia rankings.
John Tyler Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. John Tyler Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Chester, Virginia that handed out 982 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at John Tyler Community College are $10,803 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,270 in student loans.
John Tyler 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 fact, around 56% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
New River Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. NRCC is a small public school situated in Dublin, Virginia. It awarded 494 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
NRCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,699 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,123 in loans while pursuing their degree.
NRCC 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, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #8, Piedmont Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. PVCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 485 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at PVCC are $10,793 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,863 in student loans.
PVCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 56% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Central Virginia Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the small public school handed out 405 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Central Virginia Community College are $10,856 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,271 in student loans.
Central Virginia 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 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Virginia Highlands Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Abingdon, Virginia, the small public school awarded 286 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at VHCC are $10,728 per year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at VHCC. In 2020-2021 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Mountain Empire Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, the small public school awarded 286 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MECC are $10,728 a year.
MECC 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.
Virginia Western Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Virginia Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Roanoke, Virginia. It awarded 654 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Virginia Western Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,106 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,129 in student loans.
Virginia Western Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Tidewater Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Tidewater Community College is located in Norfolk, Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,216 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Tidewater Community College are $11,564 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,855 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Tidewater Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Blue Ridge Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Weyers Cave, Virginia, the small public school handed out 441 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BRCC are $11,367 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,633 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at BRCC, 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.
Southwest Virginia 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 #15 on the list. Cedar Bluff, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 322 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southwest Virginia are $10,736 a year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southwest Virginia does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #16, Lord Fairfax Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Middletown, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 790 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lord Fairfax Community College are $10,742 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,394 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Lord Fairfax 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 fact, around 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Radford University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Radford, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 68 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Radford undergraduate students pay an average of $24,453 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $20,557 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Radford, 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 66% took at least some of their classes online.
Radford did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Virginia list.
South University, Virginia Beach came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. South University, Virginia Beach is a private for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 23 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
South University, Virginia Beach undergraduate students pay an average of $16,560 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $24,698 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that South University, Virginia Beach does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 46% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
South University, Virginia Beach also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Virginia list, coming in at #4.
ECPI University 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. This fairly large private for-profit school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 1,812 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ECPI University are $18,484 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,059 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at ECPI University. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
American National University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Salem, Virginia, the small private for-profit school handed out 64 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at American National University are $10,856 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $22,215 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, American National University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Liberty University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,156 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Liberty University are $16,203 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,145 in student loans.
Liberty University 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 87% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #23, Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 313 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach are $17,211 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,863 in student loans.
Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 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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