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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.
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Most Popular Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school awarded 8,655 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Indiana who attend Ivy Tech Community College full time pay an average of $4,637 in tuition and fees. 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northwestern Ohio. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Lima, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 996 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,602 in student loans. Around 9% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at University of Northwestern Ohio. 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 public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,094 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Sinclair Community College is $4,569. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,316. On average, associate degree students take out $13,597 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Online courses are available at Sinclair Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
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 public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,217 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,867 in tuition and fees if they attend MATC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to 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.
Online courses are available at MATC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 60% 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, Ferris State University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 758 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $19,257 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Ferris 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
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. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,096. Associate Degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College accumulate an average of $16,506 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Washtenaw Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
Columbus State Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Columbus State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 2,456 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Columbus State accumulate an average of $14,826 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Columbus State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 87% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Macomb Community 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 #9 on the list. Macomb Community College is located in Warren, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,252 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Macomb Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,830. Associate Degree recipients from Macomb Community College accumulate an average of $7,489 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Macomb Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
Vincennes University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Located in Vincennes, Indiana, the fairly large public school handed out 1,481 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Indiana who attend Vincennes University full time pay an average of $6,654 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,739. Associate Degree recipients from Vincennes University accumulate an average of $14,591 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Vincennes University 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 14% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Baker College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Baker College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Owosso, Michigan. It awarded 379 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Baker College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $12,710. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $20,261 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Baker College. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Stark State College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Stark State College is a fairly large public school located in North Canton, Ohio that handed out 1,081 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,548 in tuition and fees if they attend Stark State College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,644. Associate Degree recipients from Stark State College accumulate an average of $16,140 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Stark State College. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,352 associate degrees to qualified students.
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.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cuyahoga Community College District 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.
College of DuPage came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large public school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and it awarded 1,969 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at COD is $9,810. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,910. On average, associate degree students take out $12,967 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Online courses are available at COD, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 1,009 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Ohio who attend Cincinnati State full time pay an average of $5,274 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,558. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,555 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cincinnati State. 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
DeVry University - Illinois 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 #16 on the list. This large private for-profit school is located in Naperville, Illinois, and it awarded 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. Associate Degree recipients from DeVry University - Illinois accumulate an average of $29,129 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
DeVry University - Illinois 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 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #17, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 948 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend NWTC full time pay an average of $4,814 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,965. Associate Degree recipients from NWTC accumulate an average of $15,597 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NWTC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Grand Rapids Community 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 #18 on the list. Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,204 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $7,929 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Grand Rapids Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,679. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,167 in student loans. 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 landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Western Technical College is a small public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 624 associate degrees 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,788. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,730 in student loans. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Western Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Fox Valley Technical 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 #20 on the list. FVTC is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,009 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from Wisconsin who attend FVTC full time pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,977. Associate Degree recipients from FVTC accumulate an average of $11,433 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at FVTC, 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, 31% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 1,366 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Madison College is $4,607. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,812. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,344 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Madison College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Owens Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Owens State Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Perrysburg, Ohio. It awarded 1,046 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Ohio pay an average of $5,630 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Owens State Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,022. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,299 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Owens State Community College. 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. This very small private for-profit school is located in Sylvania, Ohio, and it awarded 201 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $10,049 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 98% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Ross College-Sylvania. During the 2020-2021 year, about 95% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #24, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin, and it awarded 478 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,791 in tuition and fees if they attend North Central Technical College full time. Out-of-state students 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.
Online courses are available at North Central Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Oakland Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland Community College is located in Auburn Hills, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,666 associate degrees to qualified students.
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. On average, associate degree students take out $13,433 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Oakland 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 41% took at least some of their classes online.
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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