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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools
A trade school student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 4,626 schools in the United States 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 United States
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ivy Tech Community College the most popular school in the United States for trade school students working on their degree. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 31,118 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,090 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Ivy Tech Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,780 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
The programs at National University College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the United States. National University College is a large private for-profit school located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico that handed out 9,792 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,725 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $42, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, National University College graduates make an average of $18,994 annually. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater is a great place for trade school students. UMA Clearwater is a private not-for-profit institution located in Clearwater, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7,575 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,507 in student loans. During the early years of their career, UMA Clearwater graduates make an average of $21,883 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 5,011 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Bluegrass Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $14,138 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $124, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Bluegrass Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,280 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
Out of the 4,626 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the # 5 spot on the list. UOPX - Arizona is a large private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 26,013 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $38,447 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $155. Once they receive their degree, UOPX - Arizona graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,608 during the early year of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #6, Tulsa Technology Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This small public school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 3,211 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Tulsa Tech graduates make an average of $29,478 annually. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list.
Jefferson Community and Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 4,096 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,442 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $38,170 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Central Georgia Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. CGTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Warner Robins, Georgia. It awarded 4,744 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,228 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, CGTC graduates make an average of $28,707 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #10, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 3,638 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,155 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $156 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Escoffier - Boulder graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,698 during the early year of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder Report
DeVry University - Illinois did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 9,399 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,266 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $138. Once they receive their degree, DeVry University - Illinois graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,020 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Lone Star College System landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. The Woodlands, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 11,449 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,174 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, North Harris Montgomery graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,839 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Fox Valley Technical College 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. FVTC is a public institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,648 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,430 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from FVTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,943 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
ECPI University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. ECPI University is a private for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,022 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from ECPI University accumulate an average of $23,661 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $151, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, ECPI University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,263 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Pasadena, Texas, the large public school awarded 8,335 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,844 in student loans. During the early years of their career, San Jacinto College graduates make an average of $36,140 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Columbus State Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Columbus State is located in Columbus, Ohio and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,820 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Columbus State accumulate an average of $12,197 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Texas State Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. TSTC is located in Waco, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,555 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $12,471 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, TSTC graduates make an average of $37,389 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 18% were women.
Mountainland Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Lehi, Utah is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,277 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Mountainland Technical College graduates make an average of $28,245 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rome, Georgia. It awarded 3,233 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College accumulate an average of $7,523 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,809 during the early years of their career. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Sinclair Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Sinclair Community College is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10,362 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,437 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Sinclair Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,938 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 36% were women.
With a ranking of #21, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 5,706 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale accumulate an average of $44,751 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $201, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,413 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
With a ranking of #22, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 6,278 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,935 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Wake Technical Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,991 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,705 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,712 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $817 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Embry-Riddle Worldwide graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,116 during the early year of their career. Around 17% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide
Hinds Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools ranking. Located in Raymond, Mississippi, the medium-sized public school handed out 4,168 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,551 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Hinds Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,701 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 3,012 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,554 in student loans. During the early years of their career, NWTC graduates make an average of $36,536 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in the United States
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 United States
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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