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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.
The Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 51 schools in Texas 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. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in Texas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Lamar State College - Port Arthur the best value school in Texas for trade school students working on their associate degree. Port Arthur, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 341 students in 2021-2022.
Lamar State College - Port Arthur undergraduate students pay an average of $7,890 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,232 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lamar State College - Port Arthur. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 51 schools in Texas that were part of this year’s value ranking, Lamar Institute of Technology landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Beaumont, Texas, the small public school awarded 586 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lamar Institute of Technology are $12,636 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,457 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Lamar Institute of Technology 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 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lamar Institute of Technology also is in the top 15% of our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas ranking.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Galveston College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Galveston College is a small public school located in Galveston, Texas that handed out 349 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Galveston College are $5,726 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,575 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Galveston College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Galveston College also is in the top 20% of our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas ranking.
The excellent associate degree programs at Alvin Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Texas. Alvin is a medium-sized public school situated in Alvin, Texas. It awarded 778 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Alvin are $4,010 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,112 in student loans.
Alvin does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Panola College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Panola College is a small public school situated in Carthage, Texas. It awarded 348 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Panola College are $4,896 a year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Panola College. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Panola College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list.
El Centro College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school awarded 7,626 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,059 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
El Centro 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
El Centro College also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas rankings.
Lee College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Located in Baytown, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,267 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Lee College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,302 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,113 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lee College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 40% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lee College also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list, coming in at #4.
Tarrant County College District ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas list. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 5,819 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Tarrant County College are $8,235 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,880 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Tarrant County 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 44% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Pasadena, Texas, the large public school handed out 5,788 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Jacinto College are $5,040 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,614 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at San Jacinto College. In 2020-2021 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Collin County Community College District 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. Collin County Community College District is a large public school located in McKinney, Texas that handed out 4,361 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Collin County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $5,614 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,085 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Collin County Community College District. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Collin County Community College District
With a ranking of #11, Amarillo College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Amarillo College is a public institution located in Amarillo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,411 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,653 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Amarillo 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 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Victoria College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Victoria, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 347 students in 2021-2022.
Victoria College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,112 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,658 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Victoria College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Victoria College also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
College of the Mainland came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Texas City, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 583 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at COM are $3,873 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,690 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at COM. In 2020-2021 about 41% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The University of Texas at Brownsville landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. The University of Texas at Brownsville is a medium-sized public school located in Brownsville, Texas that handed out 1,102 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The University of Texas at Brownsville undergraduate students pay an average of $4,948 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,404 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at The University of Texas at Brownsville, 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 73% took at least some of their classes online.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Wharton County Junior College is located in Wharton, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 580 associate degrees to qualified students.
Wharton County Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,052 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,556 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Wharton County Junior College. In 2020-2021 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northeast Texas Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Mount Pleasant, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 408 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NTCC are $6,449 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,117 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NTCC does offer online classes for certain majors. 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.
NTCC also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Texas list, coming in at #3.
With a ranking of #17, Central Texas College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Central Texas College is a medium-sized public school located in Killeen, Texas that handed out 1,518 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Texas College are $7,500 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,895 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Central Texas College does offer online classes for certain majors. 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.
Tyler Junior 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 #18 on the list. Tyler Junior College is a fairly large public school located in Tyler, Texas that handed out 1,723 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Tyler Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,440 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,813 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Tyler Junior College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Temple College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Temple College is a small public school situated in Temple, Texas. It awarded 660 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Temple College are $6,576 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,725 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Temple College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
South Texas College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Located in McAllen, Texas, the large public school awarded 3,702 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
South Texas College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,500 in tuition and fees each year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at South Texas College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #21, El Paso Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This large public school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 3,394 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at El Paso Community College are $5,314 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $8,729 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at El Paso Community College. 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.
Navarro 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 #22 on the list. Located in Corsicana, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 906 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Navarro College are $6,368 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,152 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Navarro College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Howard College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Texas ranking. Howard County Junior College is located in Big Spring, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 416 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Howard County Junior College are $6,030 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,810 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 Howard County Junior College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Houston Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. This large public school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 5,387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Houston Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,460 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,178 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 Houston Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
South Plains 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 #25 on the list. Located in Levelland, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 957 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,857 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,033 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 South Plains College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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