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2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools
A trade school student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. As online education opportunities 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. This report analyzed 719 schools in the United States to see which ones had the most popular online programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Trade School Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our 2023 rankings named Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater the most popular school in the United States for trade school students working on their degree. UMA Clearwater is located in Clearwater, Florida and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7,575 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,507 in student loans.After graduating from UMA Clearwater, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $21,883 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.
Out of the 719 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the # 2 spot on the list. This large private for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 26,013 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $38,447 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $155, assuming you 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.
The programs at helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the United States.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means DeVry University - Illinois is a great place for trade school students. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 9,399 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $39,266 in loans while pursuing 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.After graduating from DeVry University - Illinois, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,020 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Out of the 719 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder landed the # 5 spot 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $156.After graduating from Escoffier - Boulder, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $26,698 during the early years of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder Report
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools list. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,705 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $30,712 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $817, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Embry-Riddle Worldwide graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,116 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 17% were women.
Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Report
With a ranking of #7, Columbia Southern University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,998 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $25,142 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Columbia Southern University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $55,041 during the early year of their career. Around 37% of those degree recipients were women.
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Southern New Hampshire University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Manchester, New Hampshire that handed out 29,238 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SNHU accumulate an average of $29,420 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 $403 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SNHU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,640 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in San Mateo, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,423 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,681 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $178, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,087 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 82% were women.
With a ranking of #10, Western Governors University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 43,908 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,535 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, WGU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,838 during the early year of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Sonoran Desert Institute landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This small private for-profit school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 1,360 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Sonoran Desert Institute accumulate an average of $11,659 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Sonoran Desert Institute graduates make an average of $62,428 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 2% were women.
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14,285 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from USF Tampa accumulate an average of $30,630 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $205. Once they receive their degree, USF Tampa graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,747 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on University of South Florida - Main Campus
Grand Canyon University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 29,319 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Grand Canyon University accumulate an average of $32,993 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 $223 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Grand Canyon University graduates make an average of $48,396 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
Martinsburg College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools list. Martinsburg College is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 888 degrees to qualified students.
Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #15, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Warner Robins, Georgia, the medium-sized public school handed out 4,744 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,228 in loans while pursuing their degree. 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.
South College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. South College is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 2,322 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $49,730 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $240 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, South College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,323 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 82% were women.
With a ranking of #17, The University of Arizona Global Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. UAGC is located in San Diego, California and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,522 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UAGC accumulate an average of $34,390 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UAGC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,029 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools list. Orchard Park, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,760 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Bryant & Stratton College - Online accumulate an average of $23,917 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $149. Once they receive their degree, Bryant & Stratton College - Online graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,876 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
National University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in San Diego, California that handed out 6,315 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from National University accumulate an average of $33,607 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 $294 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, National University graduates make an average of $58,580 annually. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Liberty University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25,513 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,774 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $519. During the early years of their career, Liberty University graduates make an average of $40,489 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
With a ranking of #21, Excelsior University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Excelsior University is located in Albany, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,461 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,049 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Excelsior University graduates make an average of $58,705 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Grantham University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. Grantham University is a public institution located in LIttle Rock, Arkansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,707 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,442 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Grantham University graduates make an average of $55,745 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,503 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,848 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $483.After graduating from Mizzou, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,901 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Pima Medical Institute - Tucson did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. Pima Medical Institute - Tucson is a small private for-profit school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 1,311 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,980 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $104, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, PMI Tucson graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,610 during the early year of their career. Around 85% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top most popular online 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 Online 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 online 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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