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2023 Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Michigan 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 Michigan
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ferris State University the most popular school in Michigan for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 758 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $19,257 in loans while pursuing 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.
Out of the 40 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Washtenaw Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 1,471 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees if they attend Washtenaw Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,096. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,506 in student loans. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able 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.
The excellent associate degree programs at Macomb Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Michigan. 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.
In-state students pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees if they attend Macomb Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,830. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,489 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Macomb Community 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 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Baker College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan list. Baker College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Owosso, Michigan that handed out 379 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Baker College is $12,710. 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 Baker College accumulate an average of $20,261 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Baker College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Grand Rapids Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan 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. If you are from out of state, expect to 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. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Grand Rapids Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, Oakland Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 1,666 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,400 to cover tuition and fees at Oakland Community College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,433 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Oakland Community College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 41% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Henry Ford College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 1,337 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $5,308 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Henry Ford College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,348. On average, associate degree students take out $19,013 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Henry Ford College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #8, Delta College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Delta College is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 901 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Delta College is $6,980. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,250. Associate Degree recipients from Delta College accumulate an average of $12,609 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Delta College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Mott Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Mott Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Flint, Michigan that handed out 1,009 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend MCC full time pay an average of $5,201 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,091. On average, associate degree students take out $18,202 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lansing Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,276 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $7,340 in tuition and fees if they attend LCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,760. Associate Degree recipients from LCC accumulate an average of $14,495 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Online courses are available at LCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #11, Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 875 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College full time pay an average of $6,526 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,596. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,956 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community 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.
Schoolcraft College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school situated in Livonia, Michigan. It awarded 1,043 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,650 in tuition and fees if they attend Schoolcraft College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,652. On average, associate degree students take out $13,741 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Schoolcraft College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Jackson College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Jackson College is a small public school situated in Jackson, Michigan. It awarded 676 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Jackson College full time pay an average of $7,425 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,375. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,760 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Jackson College. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Kellogg Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Kellogg Community College is a small public school situated in Battle Creek, Michigan. It awarded 573 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Kellogg Community College full time pay an average of $7,013 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,038. On average, associate degree students take out $20,756 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Kellogg Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
MIAT College of Technology came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Canton, Michigan, the small private for-profit school awarded 148 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from MIAT College of Technology accumulate an average of $19,128 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 11% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MIAT College of Technology. During the 2020-2021 year, about 12% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northwestern Michigan College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. NMC is a small public school situated in Traverse City, Michigan. It awarded 526 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NMC is $9,532. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,048. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,316 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NMC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Northern Michigan University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Located in Marquette, Michigan, the medium-sized public school handed out 256 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Northern Michigan University full time pay an average of $12,948 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,570. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,507 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Northern Michigan University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Muskegon Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan list. Muskegon Community College is a public institution located in Muskegon, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 505 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $11,090 in tuition and fees if they attend Muskegon Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,810. On average, associate degree students take out $11,252 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Muskegon 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.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,042 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend WCCCD full time pay an average of $3,263 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $3,998. On average, associate degree students take out $14,009 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
WCCCD does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 27% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Alpena Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Alpena Community College is a public institution located in Alpena, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 197 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,995 to cover tuition and fees at Alpena Community College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Alpena Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 45% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Mid Michigan College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan list. Mid Michigan College is a small public school located in Harrison, Michigan that handed out 351 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,908 to cover tuition and fees at Mid Michigan College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Mid Michigan College accumulate an average of $16,477 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Mid Michigan College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Kirtland Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Kirtland Community College is a public institution located in Grayling, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 172 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Kirtland Community College is $6,630. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,910. On average, associate degree students take out $15,267 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Kirtland Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Lake Michigan 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 #22 on the list. Located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the small public school handed out 365 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,600 in student loans. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
LMC is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
St Clair County Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. SC4 is a small public school situated in Port Huron, Michigan. It awarded 798 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from SC4 accumulate an average of $13,654 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
SC4 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 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Monroe County Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in Michigan list. Located in Monroe, Michigan, the small public school handed out 351 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Monroe County Community College full time pay an average of $7,213 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,940. On average, associate degree students take out $15,207 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Monroe County Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Most Popular Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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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.