2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia
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. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in West Virginia to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
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 West Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Blue Ridge Community and Technical College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in West Virginia. This small public school is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and it awarded 384 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College are $7,464 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,189 in student loans.
Blue Ridge Community and 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. In 2020-2021 about 37% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pierpont Community and Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Fairmont, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 377 students in 2021-2022.
Pierpont Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $12,056 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,153 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Pierpont Community and Technical College, 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 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pierpont Community and Technical College also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia rankings.
Read full report on Pierpont Community and Technical College
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 342 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at West Virginia University at Parkersburg are $9,124 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,965 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 17 schools in West Virginia that were part of this year’s value ranking, BridgeValley Community & Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. BridgeValley Community & Technical College is a small public school situated in South Charleston, West Virginia. It awarded 339 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BridgeValley Community & Technical College are $11,598 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,721 in student loans.
BridgeValley Community & 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. In 2020-2021 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mountwest Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Huntington, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 228 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MCTC are $12,004 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,089 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MCTC. In 2020-2021 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Southern is located in Mount Gay, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 306 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern are $6,879 per year.
One thing to take note of is that Southern does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
West Virginia Northern Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. WVNCC is a small public school situated in Wheeling, West Virginia. It awarded 222 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
WVNCC undergraduate students pay an average of $12,362 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,405 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WVNCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #8, West Liberty University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. West Liberty University is a small public school located in West Liberty, West Virginia that handed out 28 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
West Liberty University undergraduate students pay an average of $17,100 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,932 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since West Liberty University does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 40% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
West Liberty University not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list.
With a ranking of #9, American Public University System did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, the large private for-profit school handed out 3,322 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at American Military University are $7,360 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,438 in student loans.
American Military University is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #10, Marshall University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 138 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Marshall University are $19,658 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $25,306 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Marshall University, 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 50% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Fairmont State University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 153 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Fairmont State undergraduate students pay an average of $17,836 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $21,623 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Fairmont State does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
New River Community and Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. New River Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Beaver, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 172 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
New River Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,608 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $8,782 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at New River Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 85% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on New River Community and Technical College
West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. WVJC Morgantown is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 291 associate degrees to qualified students.
WVJC Morgantown undergraduate students pay an average of $14,102 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,989 in student loans.
WVJC Morgantown 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 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
WVJC Morgantown not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list.
Bluefield State College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Bluefield, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 106 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Bluefield State College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,030 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,651 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Bluefield State College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Mountain State College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Parkersburg, West Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mountain State College are $8,665 a year.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Mountain State College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
West Virginia Junior College - Charleston 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 #16 on the list. Located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, the very small private for-profit school awarded 79 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WVJC Charleston are $14,529 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,309 in student loans.
WVJC Charleston 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 43% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Charleston came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Charleston, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 153 students in 2021-2022.
UC undergraduate students pay an average of $21,500 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,036 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UC 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 81% took at least some of their classes online.
UC also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in West Virginia list, coming in at #1.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 17 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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