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2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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 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 Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 90 schools in the Southwest Region to see which online 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.
Most Popular Online Trade School Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the most popular school for trade school students in the Southwest Region . Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school awarded 26,013 diplomas to qualifed students 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.After graduating from UOPX - Arizona, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,608 during the early years of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Sonoran Desert Institute helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Southwest Region . Sonoran Desert Institute is located in Tempe, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,360 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,659 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Sonoran Desert Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,428 during the early year of their career. Around 2% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Canyon University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region 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.
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.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Pima Medical Institute - Tucson is a great place for trade school students. This small private for-profit school is located in Tucson, Arizona, 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.After graduating from PMI Tucson, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,610 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
Out of the 90 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, American InterContinental University - Online landed the # 5 spot on the list. Chandler, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 4,536 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,828 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $119, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, AIU Online graduates make an average of $36,597 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Read full report on American InterContinental University - Online
The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Houston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,359 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CHCP - Northwest accumulate an average of $15,261 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 $74.After graduating from CHCP - Northwest, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,488 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
Read full report on The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest
With a ranking of #7, Community Care College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 360 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,873 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $81, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Community Care College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $23,950 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 96% were women.
Arlington Career Institute ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Arlington Career Institute is a very small private for-profit school located in Grand Prairie, Texas that handed out 270 degrees in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. ASU - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14,649 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,089 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $338, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, ASU - Skysong graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,201 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 192 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service accumulate an average of $8,955 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,047 during the early years of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Bryan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. Bryan University is a small private for-profit school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 889 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,833 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Bryan University graduates make an average of $26,230 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
With a ranking of #12, Southern Careers Institute - San Antonio (NW Loop) did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This very small private for-profit school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 686 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,823 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $60, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Southern Careers Institute - San Antonio (NW Loop) graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $22,839 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.
Read full report on Southern Careers Institute - San Antonio (NW Loop)
Brookline College - Phoenix came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 542 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,379 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $173. During the early years of their career, Brookline College - Phoenix graduates make an average of $35,689 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.
University of the Incarnate Word landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. UIW is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,987 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $53,195 in loans while pursuing 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. Once they receive their degree, UIW graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,681 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Southern Careers Institute - Austin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. This small private for-profit school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 651 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Southern Careers Institute - Austin accumulate an average of $8,120 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $60, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Southern Careers Institute - Austin graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $21,151 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
With a ranking of #16, Sam Houston State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Huntsville, Texas, the large public school handed out 5,278 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,700 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $234, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, SHSU graduates make an average of $42,564 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #17, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. TTUHSC is a medium-sized public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 2,578 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $54,356 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $343, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, TTUHSC graduates make an average of $71,841 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service 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. Located in Dallas, Texas, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 111 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service accumulate an average of $13,959 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $28,559 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
McLennan Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 1,793 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $12,051 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,510 during the early year of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #20, Amarillo College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized public school is located in Amarillo, Texas, and it awarded 2,380 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Amarillo College accumulate an average of $16,385 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Amarillo College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,621 during the early years of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
South Texas College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,616 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, South Texas College graduates make an average of $29,327 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
MSU Texas landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Wichita Falls, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,387 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,998 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $207 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, MSU Texas graduates make an average of $44,328 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. ENMU - Main Campus is a medium-sized public school situated in Portales, New Mexico. It awarded 1,342 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from ENMU - Main Campus accumulate an average of $21,720 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from ENMU - Main Campus, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,884 during the early years of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Durant, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,813 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University accumulate an average of $19,899 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Southeastern Oklahoma State University graduates make an average of $43,234 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Oklahoma City Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #24 on the list. Oklahoma City Community College is a fairly large public school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that handed out 2,024 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from OCCC accumulate an average of $11,368 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from OCCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,940 during the early years of their career. Around 65% 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.