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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools
A trade school student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 4,626 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Trade Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the most popular school for trade school students in the United States. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school handed out 31,118 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,090 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Ivy Tech Community College graduates make an average of $35,780 annually. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means National University College is a great place for trade school students. National University College is a private for-profit institution located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,792 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,725 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $42, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from National University College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $18,994 during the early years of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the United States. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Clearwater, Florida, and it awarded 7,575 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,507 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, UMA Clearwater graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $21,883 during the early year of their career. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 4,626 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Bluegrass Community and Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is located in Lexington, Kentucky and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,011 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Bluegrass Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $14,138 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $124, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Bluegrass Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $39,280 annually. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 4,626 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school awarded 26,013 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UOPX - Arizona accumulate an average of $38,447 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $155 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UOPX - Arizona graduates make an average of $50,608 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Tulsa Technology Center landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This small public school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 3,211 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Tulsa Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,478 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.
ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list.
Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 4,096 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,442 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $38,170 annually. Around 41% of those degree recipients were women.
Central Georgia Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. This medium-sized public school is located in Warner Robins, Georgia, and it awarded 4,744 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,228 in student loans. During the early years of their career, CGTC graduates make an average of $28,707 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 3,638 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Escoffier - Boulder accumulate an average of $12,155 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $156 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Escoffier - Boulder graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,698 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Read full report on Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder
DeVry University - Illinois ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. DeVry University - Illinois is a large private for-profit school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 9,399 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from DeVry University - Illinois accumulate an average of $39,266 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $138 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, DeVry University - Illinois graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,020 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Lone Star College System came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. The Woodlands, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 11,449 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,174 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, North Harris Montgomery graduates make an average of $36,839 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 3,648 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from FVTC accumulate an average of $10,430 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, FVTC graduates make an average of $36,943 annually. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
ECPI University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #14 on the list. ECPI University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,022 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $23,661 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $151. Once they receive their degree, ECPI University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,263 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. This large public school is located in Pasadena, Texas, and it awarded 8,335 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,844 in student loans.After graduating from San Jacinto College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,140 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Columbus State Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the large public school handed out 4,820 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Columbus State accumulate an average of $12,197 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
With a ranking of #17, Texas State Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 2,555 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,471 in student loans. During the early years of their career, TSTC graduates make an average of $37,389 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 18% were women.
Mountainland Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Mountainland Technical College is located in Lehi, Utah and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,277 degrees to qualified students.
Once they receive their degree, Mountainland Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,245 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #19, Georgia Northwestern Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rome, Georgia. It awarded 3,233 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College accumulate an average of $7,523 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,809 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Sinclair Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. This fairly large public school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 10,362 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Sinclair Community College accumulate an average of $11,437 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Sinclair Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,938 during the early years of their career. Around 36% of those degree recipients were women.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that handed out 5,706 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $44,751 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $201 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,413 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 6,278 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,935 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Wake Technical Community College graduates make an average of $34,991 annually. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Daytona Beach, Florida. It awarded 3,705 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,712 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $817 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Embry-Riddle Worldwide, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $65,116 during the early years of their career. Around 17% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Report
With a ranking of #24, Hinds Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Raymond, Mississippi, the medium-sized public school awarded 4,168 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Hinds Community College accumulate an average of $12,551 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Hinds Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,701 during the early year of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #25, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,012 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,554 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, NWTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,536 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
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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