2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
The Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 24 schools in Minnesota 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 Minnesota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Rochester Community and Technical College the best value school in Minnesota for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 690 associate degree awards 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,059 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Rochester Community and Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Rochester Community and Technical College is ranked #4 for overall quality in Minnesota.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Alexandria Technical & Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 337 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ATCC are $6,107 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,721 in loans while pursuing their degree.
ATCC 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 49% took at least some of their classes online.
ATCC also took the #1 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Minnesota rankings.
Read full report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ridgewater College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Ridgewater College is located in Willmar, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 548 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ridgewater College are $6,114 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,925 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Ridgewater College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Anoka Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Anoka Technical College is a small public school located in Anoka, Minnesota that handed out 187 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Anoka Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,075 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,947 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Anoka 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 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Anoka Technical College also took the #5 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Minnesota rankings.
Out of the 24 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s value ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 735 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $6,075 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,759 in student loans.
St Cloud Technical and Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
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 #6 on the list. This small public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 613 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
North Hennepin Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,050 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,106 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Hennepin Community College. 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 #7 on the list. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 533 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Hennepin Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,881 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,370 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Hennepin Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.
Northland Community and Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Thief River Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 385 students in 2021-2022.
Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,244 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,992 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 Northland Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 51% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Century College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,188 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $6,105 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,410 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Century 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.
Anoka-Ramsey 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 #10 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,112 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,655 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,814 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Saint Paul College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 560 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,318 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,097 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Saint Paul College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
South Central College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in North Mankato, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 375 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Central College are $6,146 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,951 in student loans.
South Central 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 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northwest Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Northwest Technical College is a very small public school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 115 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
NTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,226 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,981 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NTC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Dakota County 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 #14 on the list. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 420 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DCTC are $6,419 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,504 in student loans.
DCTC 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 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 727 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at M State are $5,900 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,782 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at M State. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Hibbing 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 #16 on the list. Hibbing Community College is a small public school located in Hibbing, Minnesota that handed out 643 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Hibbing Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,268 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,638 in student loans.
Hibbing Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 51% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 954 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $6,098 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,097 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 76% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Normandale Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,371 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Normandale Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,321 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,310 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Normandale Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Central Lakes College is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 503 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Central Lakes College are $6,140 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,319 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Central Lakes College. In 2020-2021 about 34% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lake Superior College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Lake Superior College is a small public school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 672 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
LSC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,404 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,655 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LSC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 239 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minnesota West are $12,332 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,120 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Minnesota West. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, Minnesota State College Southeast did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 173 students in 2021-2022.
MSC Southeast undergraduate students pay an average of $7,490 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $18,279 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at MSC Southeast. During the 2020-2021 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit institution located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,328 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rasmussen University - Minnesota are $13,765 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,089 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 Rasmussen University - Minnesota does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 87% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Minnesota list, coming in at #3.
Dunwoody College of Technology came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Dunwoody College of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 316 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Dunwoody College of Technology are $24,611 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,809 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Dunwoody College of Technology. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Dunwoody College of Technology also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Minnesota list, coming in at #2.
Best Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 24 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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