2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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 Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 623 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which 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 Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Unitek College the most popular school in the Far Western US Region for trade school students working on their degree. Unitek College is a private for-profit institution located in Fremont, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,114 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Unitek College accumulate an average of $12,845 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $165 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Unitek College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,641 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.
Out of the 623 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the # 2 spot on the list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in San Mateo, California. It awarded 1,423 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of $15,681 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $178. Once they receive their degree, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,087 during the early year of their career. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Olympic College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This small public school is located in Bremerton, Washington, and it awarded 2,461 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from OC accumulate an average of $14,155 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, OC graduates make an average of $50,431 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
The programs at Northwest Career College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Far Western US Region . Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,472 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Northwest Career College accumulate an average of $8,214 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $50, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Northwest Career College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $23,983 during the early year of their career. Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Clover Park Technical College is a small public school located in Lakewood, Washington that handed out 1,633 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,183 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, CPTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,883 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 38% were women.
Charter College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in Vancouver, Washington, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,305 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $20,604 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Charter College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,122 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
Truckee Meadows Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Truckee Meadows Community College is a public institution located in Reno, Nevada. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,717 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,535 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Truckee Meadows Community College graduates make an average of $43,454 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Sierra College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. Sierra College is a public institution located in Rocklin, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,995 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,540 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Spokane Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Spokane, Washington, and it awarded 1,969 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Spokane Community College accumulate an average of $16,036 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Spokane Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,399 during the early year of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Advanced Career Institute ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Advanced Career Institute is a private for-profit institution located in Visalia, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 1,671 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $6,241 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $39 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Advanced Career Institute, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,938 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 11% were women.
College of Southern Nevada landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the large public school handed out 5,307 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CSN accumulate an average of $11,507 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CSN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,877 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Carrington College, Sacramento landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Carrington College, Sacramento is a private for-profit institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,150 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,149 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $134, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Carrington College, Sacramento graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,519 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.
American Career College - Los Angeles ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. American Career College - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 987 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,345 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $139, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, American Career College - Los Angeles graduates make an average of $37,752 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
With a ranking of #14, National Holistic Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Emeryville, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 838 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,361 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $75. Once they receive their degree, National Holistic Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $22,470 during the early year of their career. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Summit College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in San Bernardino, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 860 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,016 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $85 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Summit College graduates make an average of $30,576 annually. Around 27% of those degree recipients were women.
Victor Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Victorville, California, and it awarded 4,997 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Victor Valley College graduates make an average of $35,632 annually. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. Fresno Institute of Technology is a private for-profit institution located in Clovis, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 954 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,356 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $68 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Fresno Institute of Technology graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,461 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Contra Costa Medical Career College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. Contra Costa Medical Career College is a very small private for-profit school located in Antioch, California that handed out 948 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,275 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
With a ranking of #19, Bellingham Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Bellingham, Washington, the small public school awarded 835 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,075 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
American Career College - Ontario landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. American Career College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in Ontario, California that handed out 734 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,739 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $165, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, American Career College - Ontario graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,941 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
Fresno City College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. This large public school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 3,885 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Fresno City College accumulate an average of $4,603 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Fresno City College graduates make an average of $37,728 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region list. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a small private for-profit school situated in Visalia, California. It awarded 1,226 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,460 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $132, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates make an average of $39,446 annually. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
Portland Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Portland, Oregon, the fairly large public school awarded 4,737 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,461 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Portland Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,075 during the early years of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
American Career College - Anaheim landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This small private for-profit school is located in Anaheim, California, and it awarded 728 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,639 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $151 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, American Career College - Anaheim graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,891 during the early year of their career. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #25, UEI College-Bakersfield did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This small private for-profit school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 819 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,988 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $98. Once they receive their degree, UEI College-Bakersfield graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $19,886 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
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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