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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.
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.
You’ll be in good company if you attend DeVry University - Illinois. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 9,399 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,266 in student loans. 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.
Out of the 103 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Sinclair Community College landed the # 3 spot on the 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.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,437 in student loans. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 36% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northcentral Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Northcentral Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Wausau, Wisconsin that handed out 2,240 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,901 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, North Central Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,732 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Ross College-Sylvania helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . This very small private for-profit school is located in Sylvania, Ohio, and 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. Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.
James A Rhodes State College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rhodes State College is located in Lima, Ohio and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 447 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $13,752 in loans while pursuing their degree.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 handed out 1,016 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $28,991 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $175. Once they receive their degree, Herzing University - Madison graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,556 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 3,012 diplomas to qualifed 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.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 landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 3,109 diplomas to qualifed 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. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Davenport University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 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. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $253, assuming you 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 landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 5,086 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WMU accumulate an average of $33,636 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $313, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from WMU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,765 during the early years of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a small public school located in Fennimore, Wisconsin that handed out 668 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Southwest Tech accumulate an average of $8,776 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Southwest Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,231 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
With a ranking of #12, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Palatine, Illinois, and it awarded 4,419 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Harper College accumulate an average of $12,072 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Harper College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,420 during the early year 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. Owosso, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,451 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.After graduating from Baker College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,022 during the early years of their career. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
Herzing University - Brookfield came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 153 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,871 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $186, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Herzing University - Brookfield, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,358 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
Indiana State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,573 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,651 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $186.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.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,885 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,909 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Cincinnati State graduates make an average of $41,987 annually. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
With a ranking of #18, Eastern Gateway Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, the large public school awarded 7,383 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $4,952 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Eastern Gateway Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,112 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
With a ranking of #19, University of Cincinnati - Clermont College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. UC Clermont College is a public institution located in Batavia, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 883 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,837 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $211 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UC Clermont College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,795 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Mercy College of Ohio landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Mercy College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 425 degrees 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. Around 89% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #20, Washtenaw Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 3,500 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College accumulate an average of $15,672 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Washtenaw Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,288 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
With a ranking of #22, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large public school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 9,599 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,201 in student loans. 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. Once they receive their degree, OHIO Athens graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,584 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
University of Michigan - Flint ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Flint, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,551 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $34,869 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $95. Once they receive their degree, UM Flint graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,976 during the early year of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #23, Mid-America College of Funeral Service did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 74 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,312 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Mid-America College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,865 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Franklin University 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. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,832 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Franklin University accumulate an average of $29,444 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Franklin University graduates make an average of $47,081 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% 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.