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2023 Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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 the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 198 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones were the most popular associate degree programs 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 Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Texas State Technical College to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southwest Region . Waco, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,443 students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $13,554 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 23% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at TSTC, 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 94% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you attend San Jacinto Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. San Jacinto College is located in Pasadena, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,788 associate degrees to qualified students.
Associate Degree recipients from San Jacinto College accumulate an average of $12,614 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
One thing to take note of is that San Jacinto College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Central New Mexico Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Southwest Region . Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the fairly large public school handed out 3,426 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CNM is $1,858. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,978. On average, associate degree students take out $9,753 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
CNM 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 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Sonoran Desert Institute. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Sonoran Desert Institute is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 816 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Sonoran Desert Institute is $11,960. 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 $15,168 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 2% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Sonoran Desert Institute is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
The excellent associate degree programs at Southwest University at El Paso helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Southwest Region . Southwest University at El Paso is located in El Paso, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 549 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $16,000 to cover tuition and fees at Southwest University at El Paso. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $24,700 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
Southwest University at El Paso is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Universal Technical Institute - Avondale 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 #6 on the list. UTI Avondale is a private for-profit institution located in Avondale, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 828 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $17,335 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 2% were women.
With a ranking of #7, Lone Star College System did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. North Harris Montgomery is a public institution located in The Woodlands, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,774 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $11,735 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at North Harris Montgomery. 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.
Houston Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. This large public school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 5,387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,344 in tuition and fees if they attend Houston Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,460. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,178 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Houston Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
Universal Technical Institute - Dallas ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Irving, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 611 students in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from UTI Dallas accumulate an average of $16,937 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 5% were women.
El Centro 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 #10 on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school handed out 7,626 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from El Centro College accumulate an average of $15,059 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
El Centro 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 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Del Mar College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,324 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend DMC full time pay an average of $4,880 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,990. Associate Degree recipients from DMC accumulate an average of $6,385 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since DMC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Austin Community College District came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, the large public school awarded 4,621 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Austin Community College District is $8,580. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,590. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,045 in student loans. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Austin Community College District. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, St Philip’s College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. St Philip’s College is a fairly large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 1,256 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at St Philip’s College is $6,742. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,272. Associate Degree recipients from St Philip’s College accumulate an average of $15,615 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
St Philip’s 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 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Pima Medical Institute - Tucson came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 567 students in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $23,034 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 86% of those degree recipients were women.
PMI Tucson does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology 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 #15 on the list. OSU Institute of Technology is located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 567 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at OSU Institute of Technology is $5,774. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,384. Associate Degree recipients from OSU Institute of Technology accumulate an average of $12,809 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 36% were women.
One thing to take note of is that OSU Institute of Technology does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 84% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Western Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Western Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 258 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Western Technical College accumulate an average of $20,434 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 4% of those degree recipients were women.
Tyler Junior College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Located in Tyler, Texas, the fairly large public school awarded 1,723 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,864 in tuition and fees if they attend Tyler Junior College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,440. Associate Degree recipients from Tyler Junior College accumulate an average of $13,813 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Tyler Junior College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Tarrant County College District landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. This large public school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 5,819 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Tarrant County College accumulate an average of $13,880 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Tarrant County College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
South Texas College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in McAllen, Texas, the large public school handed out 3,702 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at South Texas College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Pima Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the fairly large public school handed out 1,807 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Arizona who attend Pima County Community College District full time pay an average of $2,298 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,614. On average, associate degree students take out $10,213 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Pima County Community College District. During the 2020-2021 year, about 50% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lamar Institute of Technology 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 #21 on the list. Located in Beaumont, Texas, the small public school handed out 586 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,844 in tuition and fees if they attend Lamar Institute of Technology full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,636. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,457 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Lamar Institute of Technology does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lee College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Baytown, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,267 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $3,882 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lee College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,302. Associate Degree recipients from Lee College accumulate an average of $10,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Lee College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 308 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,333 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CHCP - Northwest. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest
San Juan College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Farmington, New Mexico, and it awarded 595 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,714 in tuition and fees if they attend SJC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,882. Associate Degree recipients from SJC accumulate an average of $13,626 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
SJC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin 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 #25 on the list. Located in Austin, Texas, the very small private for-profit school handed out 211 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Escoffier - Austin accumulate an average of $16,342 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin Report
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | Tulsa, OK |
| 32 | Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 33 | Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 33 | Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service | Houston, TX |
| 35 | Collin County Community College District | McKinney, TX |
| 36 | Alvin Community College | Alvin, TX |
| 37 | McLennan Community College | Waco, TX |
| 38 | Paris Junior College | Paris, TX |
| 39 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana | Las Cruces, NM |
| 40 | Pima Medical Institute - Houston | Houston, TX |
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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