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2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree 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.
The Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 381 schools in the United States to see which online associate degree programs were the most popular 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 Associate Degree 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 who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Clearwater, Florida, and it awarded 6,241 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,203 in student loans. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 381 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, South College landed the # 2 spot on the list. South College is a private for-profit institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,104 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
South College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $17,335. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from South College accumulate an average of $18,902 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 80% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Sonoran Desert Institute helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the United States. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 816 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $11,960 to cover tuition and fees at Sonoran Desert Institute. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Sonoran Desert Institute accumulate an average of $15,168 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 2% of those degree recipients were women.
Sonoran Desert Institute is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 598 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Embry-Riddle Worldwide is $11,185. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Embry-Riddle Worldwide accumulate an average of $21,221 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 13% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2020-2021 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Central Georgia Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. CGTC is a public institution located in Warner Robins, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,042 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Georgia pay an average of $3,082 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CGTC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,482. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,341 in student loans. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2020-2021 year, about 46% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Columbia Southern University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in Orange Beach, Alabama that handed out 1,276 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Columbia Southern University is $6,015. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of $16,106 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 29% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
With a ranking of #7, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school located in San Mateo, California that handed out 548 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of $17,818 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 31% took at least some of their classes online.
ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
Excelsior University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Albany, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 1,240 students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $12,110 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Excelsior University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
DeVry University - Illinois came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 1,611 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $15,032 to cover tuition and fees at DeVry University - Illinois. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,129 in student loans. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2020-2021 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Located in Perkinston, Mississippi, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,144 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,950 in tuition and fees if they attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,250. On average, associate degree students take out $12,629 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
Unitek College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Unitek College is located in Fremont, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 333 associate degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,249 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
In 2020-2021 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Saddleback College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California. It awarded 3,760 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Saddleback College is $1,334. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,814. Associate Degree recipients from Saddleback College accumulate an average of $8,010 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #15, Ross College-Sylvania did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Ross College-Sylvania is a private for-profit institution located in Sylvania, Ohio. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 201 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,049 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 98% were women.
In 2020-2021 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Orchard Park, New York, and it awarded 902 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Bryant & Stratton College - Online, expect to pay an average of $15,295 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Bryant & Stratton College - Online accumulate an average of $22,949 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Bryant & Stratton College - Online. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #17, Pima Medical Institute - Tucson did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the small private for-profit school awarded 567 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $23,034 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 86% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2020-2021 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Grantham University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Grantham University is a public institution located in LIttle Rock, Arkansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 469 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Grantham University is $8,280. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,802 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Grantham University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. WVJC Morgantown is a private for-profit institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 291 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend WVJC Morgantown, expect to pay an average of $14,102 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,989 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
In 2020-2021 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 146 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, expect to pay an average of $15,313 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service accumulate an average of $8,955 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Monroe College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Monroe College is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Bronx, New York. It awarded 875 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Monroe College, expect to pay an average of $17,442 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,013 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2020-2021 year, about 38% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,321 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
SNHU does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,380. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from SNHU accumulate an average of $17,725 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
In 2020-2021 about 96% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. CHCP - Northwest is located in Houston, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 308 associate degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,333 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.
During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
ECPI University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private for-profit school awarded 1,812 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend ECPI University, expect to pay an average of $18,484 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from ECPI University accumulate an average of $20,059 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 47% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
James A Rhodes State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in Lima, Ohio, the small public school awarded 301 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Ohio pay an average of $4,532 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Rhodes State College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,742. On average, associate degree students take out $13,353 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 35% took at least some of their classes online.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Online Trade Associate Degree 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 Associate Degree Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | South University’s online programs | Savannah, GA |
| 52 | School Removed | |
| 53 | Advanced Technology Institute | Virginia Beach, VA |
| 54 | Bryan University | Tempe, AZ |
| 55 | St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL |
| 56 | Central Texas College | Killeen, TX |
| 56 | Community Care College | Tulsa, OK |
| 58 | Azusa Pacific University College | San Dimas, CA |
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular online trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore, WI |
| 59 | Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore, MD |
| 59 | Carrington College, Phoenix North | Phoenix, AZ |
| 59 | Berkeley College - Woodland Park | Woodland Park, NJ |
| 63 | San Juan College | Farmington, NM |
| 63 | Martinsburg College | Martinsburg, WV |
| 65 | Brookline College - Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ |
| 66 | American National University | Salem, VA |
| 67 | Rockhurst University | Kansas City, MO |
| 68 | Waldorf University | Forest City, IA |
| 69 | Utah State University | Logan, UT |
| 69 | Eastern Gateway Community College | Steubenville, OH |
| 69 | Valley College-Martinsburg | Martinsburg, WV |
| 69 | Nicholls State University | Thibodaux, LA |
| 73 | Pearl River Community College | Poplarville, MS |
| 74 | Texas State Technical College | Waco, TX |
| 74 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH |
| 74 | Bryan University | Springfield, MO |
| 77 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury, NC |
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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