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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
The Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 69 schools in Kentucky 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 Kentucky
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Bluegrass Community and Technical College to be the most popular school for trade school students in Kentucky. This fairly large public school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 5,011 degrees 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $124. 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.
The programs at Jefferson Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Kentucky. This fairly large public school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 4,096 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Jefferson Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $14,442 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Jefferson Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,170 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
You’ll be in good company if you attend Gateway Community and Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Florence, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,188 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Gateway accumulate an average of $12,919 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Gateway graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,770 during the early year of their career. Around 34% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. This medium-sized public school is located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and it awarded 3,257 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $12,539 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,037 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 36% were women.
The programs at Maysville Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Kentucky. Maysville Community and Technical College is located in Maysville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,815 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,094 in student loans.After graduating from Maysville Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,391 during the early years of their career. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
Somerset Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Somerset, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,625 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SCC accumulate an average of $14,753 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from SCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,815 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
With a ranking of #7, West Kentucky Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Paducah, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,586 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,008 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $29,988 annually. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky that handed out 2,374 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SKYCTC accumulate an average of $13,214 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, SKYCTC graduates make an average of $32,998 annually. Around 38% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Report
Ashland Community and Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Ashland Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Ashland, Kentucky that handed out 2,263 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,375 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ACTC graduates make an average of $34,541 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 43% were women.
With a ranking of #10, Owensboro Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Owensboro Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Owensboro, Kentucky. It awarded 2,796 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,319 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Owensboro Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,152 during the early year of their career. Around 36% of those degree recipients were women.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College 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. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,345 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Big Sandy Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $12,938 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Big Sandy Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $36,262 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 43% were women.
Read full report on Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Hazard Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in Hazard, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 1,587 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,146 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Hazard Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,826 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Madisonville Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Madisonville, Kentucky, the small public school handed out 1,547 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,138 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Madisonville Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,288 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Hopkinsville Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 1,124 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,364 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Hopkinsville Community College graduates make an average of $36,124 annually. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
MedQuest College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. MedQuest College is a private for-profit institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 391 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MedQuest College accumulate an average of $12,464 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 $51 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from MedQuest College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $25,332 during the early years of their career. Around 96% of those degree recipients were women.
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Cumberland, Kentucky that handed out 953 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,572 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Southeast graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,786 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Read full report on Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Eastern Kentucky University 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. Richmond, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,622 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $27,474 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $218 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Eastern graduates make an average of $37,738 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Sullivan University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Sullivan University is a small private for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 871 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Sullivan University accumulate an average of $44,478 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 $254.After graduating from Sullivan University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,464 during the early years of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Kentucky ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the large public school handed out 8,890 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,151 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $460, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UK graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,675 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Western Kentucky University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Bowling Green, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,485 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WKU accumulate an average of $28,038 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 $280 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, WKU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,898 during the early year of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. NKU is a fairly large public school situated in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It awarded 3,792 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $32,046 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $214 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NKU graduates make an average of $42,837 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
With a ranking of #22, Henderson Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Henderson Community College is a public institution located in Henderson, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 523 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,500 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Henderson Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,680 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the very small private for-profit school awarded 234 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,358 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $86. During the early years of their career, PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green graduates make an average of $16,566 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 99% were women.
Read full report on PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green
Morehead State University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Morehead State University is a medium-sized public school located in Morehead, Kentucky that handed out 1,532 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Morehead State University accumulate an average of $32,260 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 $130 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Morehead State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,454 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Murray State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Murray State is a medium-sized public school situated in Murray, Kentucky. It awarded 2,172 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,882 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $329, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Murray State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,161 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Southeast Region
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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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