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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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. 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 the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 95 schools in the Plains States Region 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 the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Southeast Community College Area the best value school in the Plains States Region for trade school students working on their associate degree. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 1,022 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,864 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,132 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 Southeast Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 38% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 95 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Hutchinson Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Hutchinson Community College is located in Hutchinson, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 814 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hutchinson Community College are $4,530 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,571 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Hutchinson Community 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 46% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 95 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Bismarck State College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 759 students in 2021-2022.
BSC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,227 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,985 in student loans.
BSC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
BSC also took the #2 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region rankings.
Out of the 95 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Rochester, Minnesota, and it awarded 690 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,670 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $18,059 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Rochester Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rochester Community and Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Neosho County Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Chanute, Kansas, the small public school handed out 289 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,416 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $9,521 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Neosho County 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 39% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small public school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 337 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ATCC are $6,107 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,721 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
ATCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
ATCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list.
With a ranking of #7, Johnson County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 1,631 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,472 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,857 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that JCCC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
JCCC also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Metropolitan Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the fairly large public school handed out 1,366 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MCC are $4,815 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $9,497 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at MCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 45% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #9, Ridgewater College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Willmar, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 548 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,114 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,925 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Ridgewater College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Ridgewater College also did well on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Anoka Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Anoka, Minnesota, and it awarded 187 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka Technical College are $6,075 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,947 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Anoka Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Anoka Technical College also is in the top 15% of our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 735 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $6,075 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,759 in loans while pursuing their degree.
St Cloud Technical and 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 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #12, Central Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Grand Island, Nebraska, the medium-sized public school handed out 698 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,710 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,350 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Central Community College. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northeast Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Norfolk, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 683 students in 2021-2022.
Northeast undergraduate students pay an average of $5,130 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,841 in student loans.
Northeast 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 39% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
North Hennepin 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. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 613 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $5,050 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,106 in student loans.
Online courses are available at North Hennepin Community College, 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, 82% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Hennepin Technical 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. Hennepin Technical College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 533 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,881 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,370 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Hennepin Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
North Dakota State College of Science 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. Wahpeton, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 501 students in 2021-2022.
North Dakota State College of Science undergraduate students pay an average of $6,879 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,866 in student loans.
North Dakota State College of Science does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 29% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Dakota State College of Science excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Barton County Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Barton Community College is located in Great Bend, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 584 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Barton Community College are $4,608 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,035 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Barton Community 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 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Labette Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Labette Community College is a small public school situated in Parsons, Kansas. It awarded 204 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Labette Community College are $4,768 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,942 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Labette Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Watertown, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 514 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LATI are $6,718 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,775 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
LATI 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 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
LATI excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Northland Community and Technical 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 #20 on the list. Located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 385 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,244 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,992 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Northland Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Century 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 #21 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,188 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Century College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,105 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,410 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Century College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Mid-Plains Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. North Platte, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 294 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Mid-Plains Community College are $4,380 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,767 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Mid-Plains 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 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota that handed out 1,112 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $5,655 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,814 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 Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #24, Seward County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Liberal, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 175 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SCCC are $4,928 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $6,777 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SCCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 30% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Saint Paul College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Saint Paul College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 560 associate degrees to qualified students.
Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,318 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,097 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Saint Paul College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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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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