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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools
A trade school student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 4,626 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Trade Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ivy Tech Community College the most popular school in the United States for trade school students working on their degree. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school handed out 31,118 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,090 in student loans.After graduating from Ivy Tech Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,780 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means National University College is a great place for trade school students. National University College is located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,792 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,725 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $42. Once they receive their degree, National University College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $18,994 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Clearwater, Florida, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 7,575 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UMA Clearwater accumulate an average of $13,507 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, UMA Clearwater graduates make an average of $21,883 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 5,011 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,138 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $124, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Bluegrass Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,280 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College
A rank of #5 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.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,447 in student loans. 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. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Tulsa Technology Center came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Tulsa Tech is a public institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3,211 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Tulsa Tech graduates make an average of $29,478 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.
With a ranking of #7, did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working.
Jefferson Community and 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. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 4,096 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Jefferson Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $14,442 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,170 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
Central Georgia Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. CGTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Warner Robins, Georgia. 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.After graduating from CGTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $28,707 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Escoffier - Boulder is a private for-profit institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,638 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,155 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $156 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Escoffier - Boulder graduates make an average of $26,698 annually. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder Report
DeVry University - Illinois ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school 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.After graduating from DeVry University - Illinois, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,020 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Lone Star College System landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school handed out 11,449 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,174 in student loans.After graduating from North Harris Montgomery, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,839 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. FVTC is a fairly large public school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 3,648 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from FVTC accumulate an average of $10,430 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from FVTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,943 during the early years of their career. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
ECPI University 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. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 4,022 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,661 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $151. Once they receive their degree, ECPI University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,263 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
With a ranking of #15, San Jacinto Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. San Jacinto College is a public institution located in Pasadena, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,335 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from San Jacinto College accumulate an average of $11,844 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, San Jacinto College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,140 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Columbus State Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the large public school awarded 4,820 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,197 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Texas State Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. TSTC is a fairly large public school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 2,555 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from TSTC accumulate an average of $12,471 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, TSTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,389 during the early year of their career. Around 18% of those degree recipients were women.
Mountainland Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Mountainland Technical College is a public institution located in Lehi, Utah. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,277 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Mountainland Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,245 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. This medium-sized public school is located in Rome, Georgia, and it awarded 3,233 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,523 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,809 during the early years of their career. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #20, Sinclair Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Sinclair Community College is located in Dayton, Ohio and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10,362 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $11,437 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Sinclair Community College graduates make an average of $32,938 annually. Around 36% of those degree recipients were women.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5,706 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale accumulate an average of $44,751 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 $201. During the early years of their career, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale graduates make an average of $40,413 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
Wake Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #22 on the list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 6,278 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,935 in student loans.After graduating from Wake Technical Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,991 during the early years of their career. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and 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.After graduating from Embry-Riddle Worldwide, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $65,116 during the early years of their career. Around 17% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Report
Hinds 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. Located in Raymond, Mississippi, the medium-sized public school awarded 4,168 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,551 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Hinds Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,701 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
With a ranking of #25, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. NWTC is a fairly large public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 3,012 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,554 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, NWTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,536 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular 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 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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