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2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri
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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 19 schools in Missouri 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 Missouri
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found State Fair Community College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in Missouri. State Fair Community College is a public institution located in Sedalia, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 608 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at State Fair Community College are $6,648 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,257 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that State Fair Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Central College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. East Central College is a small public school situated in Union, Missouri. It awarded 427 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at East Central College are $6,360 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,426 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at East Central College. In 2020-2021 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 19 schools in Missouri that were part of this year’s value ranking, State Technical College of Missouri landed the # 3 spot on the list. STC is a small public school situated in Linn, Missouri. It awarded 615 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
STC undergraduate students pay an average of $13,320 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,706 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at STC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 28% took at least some of their classes online.
STC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ozarks Technical Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. This fairly large public school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 1,490 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at OTC are $6,368 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,228 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that OTC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Saint Louis Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Missouri. Bridgeton, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,981 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Saint Louis Community College are $6,990 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,816 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Saint Louis Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 40% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
St Charles Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Cottleville, Missouri that handed out 851 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
SCC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,080 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,855 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
SCC 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.
Jefferson College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Hillsboro, Missouri, the small public school handed out 563 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JeffCo are $7,980 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,735 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
JeffCo 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 56% took at least some of their classes online.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. MCC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,899 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MCC are $9,600 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,682 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at MCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Mineral Area 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 #9 on the list. Mineral Area College is a small public school located in Park Hills, Missouri that handed out 471 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MAC are $7,210 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,715 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
MAC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Crowder College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Crowder College is located in Neosho, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 743 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Crowder College are $5,616 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $11,427 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Crowder 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 38% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Missouri Southern State 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 #11 on the list. Missouri Southern is located in Joplin, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 135 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Missouri Southern are $16,052 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,834 in student loans.
Missouri Southern 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, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Missouri Southern also took the #5 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri rankings.
With a ranking of #12, North Central Missouri College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Trenton, Missouri, the small public school awarded 312 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NCMC are $7,350 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,197 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NCMC. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ranken Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 403 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Ranken Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $16,960 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Ranken 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 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Ranken Technical College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #1 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri list.
Columbia College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 600 students in 2021-2022.
Columbia College Missouri undergraduate students pay an average of $12,140 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $25,680 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Columbia College Missouri. In 2020-2021 about 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Three Rivers College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Three Rivers College is a small public school located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri that handed out 424 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Three Rivers College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,600 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,103 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Three Rivers College, 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 81% took at least some of their classes online.
Bryan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Bryan University is a very small private for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 40 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bryan University are $15,782 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $20,281 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Bryan University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Rockhurst University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri ranking. Rockhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rockhurst are $41,701 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $9,940 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rockhurst does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 45% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Rockhurst is ranked #2 for overall quality in Missouri.
With a ranking of #17, Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. CMU CLAS is located in Fayette, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CMU CLAS are $27,140 a year.
CMU CLAS also took the #4 spot in our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Missouri rankings.
Full Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Report
Southwest Baptist University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Missouri list. Located in Bolivar, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 156 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southwest Baptist University are $26,970 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,582 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 Southwest Baptist University does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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 19 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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