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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
The Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 270 schools in Florida 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 Florida
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater the most popular school in Florida for trade school students working on their degree. Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Clearwater, Florida that handed out 7,575 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UMA Clearwater accumulate an average of $13,507 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UMA Clearwater graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $21,883 during the early year of their career. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 5,706 students 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. During the early years of their career, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale graduates make an average of $40,413 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
Out of the 270 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide landed the # 3 spot on the list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 3,705 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Embry-Riddle Worldwide accumulate an average of $30,712 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 $817. During the early years of their career, Embry-Riddle Worldwide graduates make an average of $65,116 annually. Around 17% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at South Florida Institute of Technology helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Florida. Located in Miami, Florida, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,315 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from South Florida Institute of Technology accumulate an average of $7,709 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, South Florida Institute of Technology graduates make an average of $25,123 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Broward College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the large public school awarded 13,441 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from BC accumulate an average of $9,988 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, BC graduates make an average of $42,319 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
With a ranking of #6, University of Central Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Orlando, Florida, the large public school handed out 20,166 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UCF accumulate an average of $28,349 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 $221.After graduating from UCF, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,595 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Valencia College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Located in Orlando, Florida, the large public school awarded 17,631 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Valencia College accumulate an average of $15,450 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 $102 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Valencia College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,350 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Florida State College at Jacksonville ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the large public school handed out 7,124 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,014 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, FSCJ graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,241 during the early year of their career. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #9, Palm Beach State College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Palm Beach State College is a large public school located in Lake Worth, Florida that handed out 5,792 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Palm Beach State College accumulate an average of $9,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Palm Beach State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,671 during the early years of their career. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Miami Dade College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, the large public school handed out 16,153 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MDC accumulate an average of $14,646 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, MDC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,255 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Seminole State College of Florida ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Seminole State is a fairly large public school situated in Sanford, Florida. It awarded 5,853 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Seminole State accumulate an average of $16,867 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Seminole State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,833 during the early year of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #12, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Tampa, Florida, the large public school awarded 14,285 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,630 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $205, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USF Tampa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,747 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. HCC is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7,304 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from HCC accumulate an average of $14,680 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $95, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, HCC graduates make an average of $40,156 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Universal Technical Institute - Orlando ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Located in Orlando, Florida, the very small private for-profit school handed out 1,273 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,984 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $192.After graduating from UTI Orlando, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,646 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 3% were women.
Rasmussen University - Florida landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit institution located in Ocala, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4,205 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $22,566 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $168. Once they receive their degree, Rasmussen University - Florida graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,940 during the early year of their career. Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the very small private for-profit school handed out 938 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,015 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $185, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, TWS graduates make an average of $32,926 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 10% were women.
Indian River State College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida ranking. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 4,247 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,014 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Indian River State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,566 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
With a ranking of #18, Daytona State College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 3,322 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,413 in student loans.After graduating from Daytona State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,012 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Sheridan Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida list. Sheridan Technical College is a public institution located in Hollywood, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,059 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Sheridan Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $23,311 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Southern Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This small private for-profit school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 1,239 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,483 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $54 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Southern Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $24,788 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
With a ranking of #21, St Petersburg College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. SPC is a large public school situated in St. Petersburg, Florida. It awarded 6,422 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,985 in student loans.After graduating from SPC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,600 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution located in Daytona Beach, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,567 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach accumulate an average of $29,814 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 $782 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $61,176 during the early year of their career. Around 26% of those degree recipients were women.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida ranking. EFSC is a fairly large public school situated in Melbourne, Florida. It awarded 5,016 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,150 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, EFSC graduates make an average of $35,517 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Erwin Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida ranking. Erwin Technical College is a very small public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 387 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Erwin Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,741 during the early year of their career. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Manatee Technical College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida ranking. Manatee Technical College is a small public school located in Bradenton, Florida that handed out 870 degrees in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Schools in Florida
Not only did these schools make the top 41 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Southeast Region
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Florida Career College - Lauderdale Lakes | Lauderdale Lakes, FL |
| 43 | Praxis Institute | Miami, FL |
| 44 | Orange Technical College - Mid Florida Campus | Orlando, FL |
| 45 | Lake Technical College | Eustis, FL |
| 46 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
| 47 | Florida Career College - Boynton Beach | Boynton Beach, FL |
| 48 | Boca Beauty Academy | Boca Raton, FL |
| 49 | Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| 50 | Florida Career College - Margate | Margate, FL |
| 51 | American Medical Academy | Miami, FL |
| 52 | William T McFatter Technical College | Davie, FL |
| 53 | L3 Commercial Training Solutions Airline Academy | Sanford, FL |
| 54 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL |
| 55 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
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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