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