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2023 Most Popular Associate Degree 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. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 233 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which associate degree 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 Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ivy Tech Community College the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for trade school students working on their associate degree. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 8,655 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $4,637 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Ivy Tech Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,927. Associate Degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of $11,835 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Ivy Tech Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at University of Northwestern Ohio helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in Lima, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 996 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend University of Northwestern Ohio, expect to pay an average of $11,867 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $17,602 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 9% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at University of Northwestern Ohio, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 28% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 233 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Sinclair Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 2,094 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Sinclair Community College is $4,569. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,316. Associate Degree recipients from Sinclair Community College accumulate an average of $13,597 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Sinclair Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Milwaukee Area Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. MATC is a fairly large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,217 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,867 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MATC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,018. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,866 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
MATC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at Ferris State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . Ferris State University is a fairly large public school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 758 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Ferris accumulate an average of $19,257 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Ferris. In 2020-2021 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 1,471 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Washtenaw Community College full time pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,096. On average, associate degree students take out $16,506 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Washtenaw Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Columbus State Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Columbus State Community College is a large public school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 2,456 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $14,826 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Columbus State. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
With a ranking of #9, Macomb Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 2,252 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Macomb Community College is $6,210. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,830. On average, associate degree students take out $7,489 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Macomb Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Vincennes University 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 #10 on the list. Vincennes University is a fairly large public school situated in Vincennes, Indiana. It awarded 1,481 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $6,654 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Vincennes University. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,739. On average, associate degree students take out $14,591 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Vincennes University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 14% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Baker 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 #11 on the list. Baker College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Owosso, Michigan that handed out 379 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Baker College, expect to pay an average of $12,710 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Baker College accumulate an average of $20,261 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Baker College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Stark 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 #12 on the list. North Canton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,081 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,548 in tuition and fees if they attend Stark State College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,644. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,140 in student loans. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Stark State College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,352 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,641 in student loans. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cuyahoga Community College District. During the 2020-2021 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
College of DuPage 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 #14 on the list. Located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the large public school handed out 1,969 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,810 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend COD. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,910. Associate Degree recipients from COD accumulate an average of $12,967 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at COD. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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 on their associate degree. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,009 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Ohio who attend Cincinnati State full time pay an average of $5,274 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,558. Associate Degree recipients from Cincinnati State accumulate an average of $14,555 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Online courses are available at Cincinnati State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Full Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Report
With a ranking of #16, DeVry University - Illinois did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. DeVry University - Illinois is a large private for-profit school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 1,611 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
DeVry University - Illinois does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,032. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $29,129 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at DeVry University - Illinois. During the 2020-2021 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 948 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NWTC is $4,814. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,965. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,597 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
NWTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 41% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #18, Grand Rapids Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Grand Rapids Community College is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,204 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $7,929 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Grand Rapids Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,679. On average, associate degree students take out $13,167 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Grand Rapids Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Western Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 624 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,636 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western Technical College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,788. Associate Degree recipients from Western Technical College accumulate an average of $15,730 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Western Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #20, Fox Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 1,009 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend FVTC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,977. On average, associate degree students take out $11,433 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
FVTC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 31% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Madison Area Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison College is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,366 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend Madison College full time pay an average of $4,607 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,812. Associate Degree recipients from Madison College accumulate an average of $17,344 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Madison College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Owens Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Perrysburg, Ohio, and it awarded 1,046 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,630 in tuition and fees if they attend Owens State Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,022. Associate Degree recipients from Owens State Community College accumulate an average of $18,299 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Owens State Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ross College-Sylvania ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Sylvania, Ohio is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 201 students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $10,049 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 98% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Ross College-Sylvania. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northcentral Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Wausau, Wisconsin that handed out 478 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend North Central Technical College full time pay an average of $3,791 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,512. On average, associate degree students take out $9,408 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that North Central Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Oakland Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Auburn Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,666 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Oakland Community College is $5,400. 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 Oakland Community College accumulate an average of $13,433 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Oakland Community College. In 2020-2021 about 41% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 35 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Trade School Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Delta College | University Center, MI |
| 37 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI |
| 38 | Mott Community College | Flint, MI |
| 39 | William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL |
| 40 | Shawnee State University | Portsmouth, OH |
| 41 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL |
| 42 | Lansing Community College | Lansing, MI |
| 43 | Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL |
| 44 | Lorain County Community College | Elyria, OH |
| 45 | Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park | Melrose Park, IL |
| 46 | James A Rhodes State College | Lima, OH |
| 47 | Herzing University - Madison | Madison, WI |
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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