2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 103 schools in the Great Lakes Region 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 Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our 2023 rankings named the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for trade school students working on their degree.
The programs at DeVry University - Illinois helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 9,399 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $39,266 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $138, assuming you 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. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sinclair Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 10,362 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,437 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Sinclair Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,938 during the early year of their career. Around 36% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 103 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northcentral Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. North Central Technical College is a public institution located in Wausau, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,240 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,901 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from North Central Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,732 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Ross College-Sylvania. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ross College-Sylvania is a very small private for-profit school situated in Sylvania, Ohio. It awarded 575 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,203 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Ross College-Sylvania graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $25,099 during the early year of their career. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
James A Rhodes State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. James A Rhodes State College is a small public school located in Lima, Ohio that handed out 447 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,752 in student loans.After graduating from Rhodes State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,621 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Herzing University - Madison ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,016 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,991 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $175, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Herzing University - Madison, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,556 during the early years of their career. Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. NWTC is a fairly large public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 3,012 degrees 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.After graduating from NWTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,536 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale 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. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,109 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $31,834 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $286. During the early years of their career, SIUC graduates make an average of $42,413 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Davenport 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. Davenport University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 1,525 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $55,760 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $253 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Davenport University graduates make an average of $49,918 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Western Michigan University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 5,086 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,636 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $313 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, WMU graduates make an average of $43,765 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Fennimore, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 668 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,776 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Southwest Tech graduates make an average of $36,231 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
William Rainey Harper College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,419 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,072 in student loans.After graduating from Harper College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,420 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Baker College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Owosso, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,451 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,753 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $112. During the early years of their career, Baker College graduates make an average of $41,022 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
Herzing University - Brookfield ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Herzing University - Brookfield is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 153 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Herzing University - Brookfield accumulate an average of $29,871 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 $186. During the early years of their career, Herzing University - Brookfield graduates make an average of $42,358 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
With a ranking of #15, Indiana State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Indiana State University is a medium-sized public school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 2,573 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,651 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $186 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Indiana State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,808 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
With a ranking of #15, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,885 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Cincinnati State accumulate an average of $13,909 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Cincinnati State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,987 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Read full report on Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Eastern Gateway Community College 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. Eastern Gateway Community College is located in Steubenville, Ohio and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7,383 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $4,952 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Eastern Gateway Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,112 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
University of Cincinnati - Clermont College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Batavia, Ohio, and it awarded 883 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,837 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $211, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UC Clermont College graduates make an average of $35,795 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Mercy College of Ohio came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Toledo, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 425 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Mercy College accumulate an average of $22,246 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 $241 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Mercy College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,911 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,500 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,672 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Washtenaw Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,288 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Athens, Ohio, the large public school handed out 9,599 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,201 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $422 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from OHIO Athens, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,584 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #23, University of Michigan - Flint did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,551 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UM Flint accumulate an average of $34,869 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 $95 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UM Flint graduates make an average of $46,976 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Mid-America College of Funeral Service landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Mid-America College of Funeral Service is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Jeffersonville, Indiana that handed out 74 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,312 in student loans.After graduating from Mid-America College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,865 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Franklin University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,832 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $29,444 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Franklin University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,081 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
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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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