2023 Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region
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're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 176 schools in the Plains States 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.
Featured schools near , edit
Most Popular Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Southeast Community College Area to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Plains States Region . Southeast Community College is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 576 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $3,192 in tuition and fees if they attend Southeast Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $3,780. Associate Degree recipients from Southeast Community College accumulate an average of $17,475 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 31% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southeast Community College. In fact, around 42% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means State Technical College of Missouri is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. STC is located in Linn, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 472 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $7,095 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend STC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,780. Associate Degree recipients from STC accumulate an average of $13,443 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 9% were women.
STC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 21% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Catherine University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. St. Kate’s is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 354 associate degrees to qualified students.
St. Kate’s does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $35,532. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from St. Kate’s accumulate an average of $36,223 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
One thing to take note of is that St. Kate’s does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 176 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ranken Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 349 students in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $16,164 to cover tuition and fees at Ranken Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $15,083 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 7% of those degree recipients were women.
Ranken Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Hennepin Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 333 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at Hennepin Technical College is $5,741. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,067 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 29% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Hennepin Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. OTC is located in Springfield, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 326 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $4,924 in tuition and fees if they attend OTC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,028. Associate Degree recipients from OTC accumulate an average of $19,198 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that OTC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #7, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the fairly large public school handed out 330 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $5,308 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kirkwood Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,072. On average, associate degree students take out $19,972 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Kirkwood Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Watertown, South Dakota, the small public school awarded 311 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at LATI is $6,718. 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 LATI accumulate an average of $16,724 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 26% of those degree recipients were women.
LATI 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 fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Metropolitan Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 333 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Nebraska who attend MCC full time pay an average of $3,195 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,680. Associate Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $13,886 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 42% 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 304 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, associate degree students take out $16,587 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MCC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #11, Bismarck State College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the small public school awarded 283 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Students from North Dakota who attend BSC full time pay an average of $4,926 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,930. On average, associate degree students take out $17,120 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 16% were women.
Online courses are available at BSC, 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.
Central Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Island, Nebraska. It awarded 298 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Central Community College is $3,210. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,590. On average, associate degree students take out $10,095 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
Central 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 69% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #13, Southeast Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This small public school is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it awarded 284 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Southeast Tech does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $7,650. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Southeast Tech accumulate an average of $20,480 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 36% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Southeast Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 45% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
North Dakota State College of Science came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and it awarded 262 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at North Dakota State College of Science is $5,646. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,606. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,451 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 34% were women.
Online courses are available at North Dakota State College of Science, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 32% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Des Moines Area 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 #15 on the list. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 340 students in 2020-2021.
On average, associate degree students take out $16,614 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
DMACC 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 2019-2020 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #16, Saint Louis Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This fairly large public school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 285 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $5,295 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Saint Louis Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,155. On average, associate degree students take out $13,964 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Saint Louis 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 237 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at St Cloud Technical and Community College is $5,874. 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 $20,104 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
St Cloud Technical and Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Century College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 302 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,907 to cover tuition and fees at Century College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Century College accumulate an average of $22,559 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Century College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Mitchell Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree trade school programs. Mitchell, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 205 students in 2020-2021.
If you want to attend Mitchell Tech, expect to pay an average of $7,524 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,633 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 28% of those degree recipients were women.
Mitchell Tech does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 27% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Dunwoody College 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 #20 on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 197 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $23,863 to cover tuition and fees at Dunwoody College of Technology. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Dunwoody College of Technology accumulate an average of $20,479 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 12% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Dunwoody College of Technology. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #21, Northeast Community 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 Norfolk, Nebraska, and it awarded 226 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northeast is $3,750. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,010. Associate Degree recipients from Northeast accumulate an average of $13,887 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 27% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Northeast, 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, 35% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Grantham University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Grantham University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in Lenexa, Kansas that handed out 276 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
If you want to attend Grantham University, expect to pay an average of $8,280 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 $23,791 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Grantham University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Dakota County 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 #23 on the list. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 189 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
DCTC does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,208. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $19,942 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 16% of those degree recipients were women.
DCTC 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #24, Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. M State is a medium-sized public school situated in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It awarded 200 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
M State does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,862. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $20,514 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since M State does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is a small public school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 170 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at WSU Tech is $5,963. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,875. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,190 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at WSU Tech. In 2019-2020 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Full Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Report
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 27 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by State
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Johnson County Community College | Overland Park, KS |
| 29 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN |
| 30 | Lake Superior College | Duluth, MN |
| 31 | Anoka Technical College | Anoka, MN |
| 32 | Western Dakota Technical Institute | Rapid City, SD |
| 33 | Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson, KS |
| 34 | Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN |
| 35 | Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 36 | Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA |
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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.