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2023 Most Popular 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.
The Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 128 schools in Michigan to see which ones were the most popular programs 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 Michigan
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Ferris State University to be the most popular school for trade school students in Michigan. This fairly large public school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 3,363 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,636 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $230 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Ferris graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,887 during the early year of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lansing Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan list. LCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 2,226 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from LCC accumulate an average of $13,543 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 $59 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, LCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,008 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Douglas J Aveda Institute is a great place for trade school students. Douglas J Aveda Institute is a private for-profit institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 798 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,266 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $122, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Douglas J Aveda Institute graduates make an average of $18,502 annually. Around 95% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Washtenaw Community College is a great place for trade school students. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,500 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,672 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Washtenaw Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,288 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Macomb Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Michigan. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Warren, Michigan. It awarded 2,609 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Macomb Community College accumulate an average of $7,489 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Macomb Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,546 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
MIAT College of Technology 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 Canton, Michigan, the small private for-profit school handed out 984 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MIAT College of Technology accumulate an average of $15,215 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 $119. During the early years of their career, MIAT College of Technology graduates make an average of $37,324 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 7% were women.
Baker College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Owosso, Michigan, and it awarded 1,451 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Baker College accumulate an average of $30,753 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 $112 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Baker College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,022 during the early year of their career. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #8, Northwestern Technological Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Southfield, Michigan is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 577 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,371 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $110, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Northwestern Technological Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,223 during the early year of their career. Around 3% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #9, Grand Rapids Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Grand Rapids Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 1,523 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College accumulate an average of $11,146 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Grand Rapids Community College graduates make an average of $35,054 annually. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Oakland Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan list. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,225 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,924 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Oakland Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,470 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
With a ranking of #11, U.S. Truck Driver Training School did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. U.S. Truck Driver Training School is a very small private for-profit school located in Sterling Heights, Michigan that handed out 395 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $6,274 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from U.S. Truck Driver Training School, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $21,102 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 15% were women.
Western Michigan University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,086 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,636 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $313. During the early years of their career, WMU graduates make an average of $43,765 annually. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Kellogg Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan list. Battle Creek, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 843 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Kellogg Community College accumulate an average of $20,724 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Kellogg Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,943 during the early year of their career. Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
Dorsey College, Woodhaven ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan list. Dorsey College, Woodhaven is located in Madison Heights, Michigan and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 391 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,919 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $100, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Dorsey College, Woodhaven, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $22,524 during the early years of their career. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Michigan State University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 13,090 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,374 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $514.After graduating from Michigan State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,302 during the early years of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Delta College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in University Center, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,039 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,359 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Delta College graduates make an average of $40,630 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Schoolcraft College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. Livonia, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,317 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,541 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Schoolcraft College graduates make an average of $30,604 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
With a ranking of #18, Henry Ford College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Henry Ford College is located in Dearborn, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,496 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,256 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Henry Ford College graduates make an average of $38,713 annually. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Dorsey College, Roseville came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Roseville, Michigan, the very small private for-profit school handed out 313 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,227 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $100, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Dorsey College, Roseville graduates make an average of $22,973 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
Northern Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Marquette, Michigan, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,790 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Northern Michigan University accumulate an average of $22,589 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $305, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Northern Michigan University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,476 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Wayne County Community College District ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,688 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WCCCD accumulate an average of $14,009 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, WCCCD graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,660 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
With a ranking of #22, Mott Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. MCC is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,114 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $18,202 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,931 during the early year of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,162 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,451 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $201. Once they receive their degree, Eastern Michigan graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,401 during the early year of their career. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Michigan College of Beauty-Troy ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Michigan list. Michigan College of Beauty-Troy is a very small private for-profit school located in Troy, Michigan that handed out 186 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,199 in student loans.After graduating from Michigan College of Beauty-Troy, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $15,854 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.
Muskegon Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. Muskegon Community College is located in Muskegon, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 632 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,440 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Muskegon Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,875 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
View Most Popular Trade School Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI |
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.