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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.
Most Popular Online Trade School Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater to be the most popular school for trade school students in the United States. Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Clearwater, Florida that handed out 7,575 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,507 in student loans. 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.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Phoenix - Arizona is a great place for trade school students. UOPX - Arizona is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 26,013 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $38,447 in loans while pursuing 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. Once they receive their degree, UOPX - Arizona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,608 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend . The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools list.
Out of the 719 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, DeVry University - Illinois landed the # 4 spot on the 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. During the early years of their career, DeVry University - Illinois graduates make an average of $48,020 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, the medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 3,638 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,155 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $156, assuming you 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. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $817. During the early years of their career, Embry-Riddle Worldwide graduates make an average of $65,116 annually. Around 17% of those degree recipients 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. This fairly large private for-profit school is located in Orange Beach, Alabama, and it awarded 5,998 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of $25,142 in student debt by the time they complete 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.
With a ranking of #8, Southern New Hampshire University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. SNHU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Manchester, New Hampshire. It awarded 29,238 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,420 in loans while pursuing 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. During the early years of their career, SNHU graduates make an average of $46,640 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
With a ranking of #9, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit institution located in San Mateo, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,423 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,681 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $178 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates make an average of $52,087 annually. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
Western Governors University 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. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 43,908 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,535 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, WGU graduates make an average of $62,838 annually. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #11, Sonoran Desert Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Sonoran Desert Institute is a small private for-profit school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 1,360 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,659 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Sonoran Desert Institute graduates make an average of $62,428 annually. Around 2% of those degree recipients 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. This large public school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 14,285 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,630 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $205 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USF Tampa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,747 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Grand Canyon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school awarded 29,319 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,993 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $223. During the early years of their career, Grand Canyon University graduates make an average of $48,396 annually. Around 76% of those degree recipients were women.
Martinsburg College 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. Located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the small private for-profit school awarded 888 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
Central Georgia Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. CGTC is a public institution located in Warner Robins, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4,744 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CGTC accumulate an average of $9,228 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CGTC graduates make an average of $28,707 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
South College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 2,322 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $49,730 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $240, assuming you 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. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
The University of Arizona Global Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 9,522 students in 2021-2022.
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. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the 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.
On average, students take out $23,917 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $149, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Bryant & Stratton College - Online, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,876 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
National University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. National University is located in San Diego, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,315 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $33,607 in loans while pursuing 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. Once they receive their degree, National University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,580 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Lynchburg, Virginia. 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. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $519 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Liberty University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,489 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Excelsior University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. Albany, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 4,461 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,049 in student loans.After graduating from Excelsior University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,705 during the early years of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #22, Grantham University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized public school is located in LIttle Rock, Arkansas, and it awarded 1,707 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Grantham University accumulate an average of $28,442 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Grantham University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,745 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 9,503 students in 2021-2022.
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. During the early years of their career, Mizzou graduates make an average of $46,901 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% 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. PMI Tucson is a private for-profit institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,311 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,980 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $104 if they 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:
Narrow Schools by Region
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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