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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 107 schools in Virginia 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 Virginia
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named ECPI University the most popular school in Virginia for trade school students working on their degree. ECPI University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,022 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from ECPI University accumulate an average of $23,661 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 $151.After graduating from ECPI University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,263 during the early years of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 107 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Tidewater Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Tidewater Community College is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,462 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Tidewater Community College accumulate an average of $13,635 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Tidewater Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,302 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Northern Virginia Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. This large public school is located in Annandale, Virginia, and it awarded 9,087 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,283 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Northern Virginia Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,967 during the early year of their career. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 107 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Liberty University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 25,513 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,774 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $519. During the early years of their career, Liberty University graduates make an average of $40,489 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend James Madison University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the large public school awarded 5,530 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $22,949 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $449 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, JMU graduates make an average of $46,195 annually. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in Roanoke, Virginia, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,184 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,630 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Virginia Western Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,159 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #7, Danville Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This small public school is located in Danville, Virginia, and it awarded 779 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Danville Community College accumulate an average of $10,127 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Danville Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,785 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Old Dominion University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. This large public school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 5,241 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,162 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $272 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Old Dominion graduates make an average of $46,278 annually. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #9, Tidewater Tech-Trades did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, the very small private for-profit school awarded 483 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,015 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Tidewater Tech-Trades graduates make an average of $29,006 annually. Around 16% of those degree recipients were women.
Mountain Empire Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. MECC is a public institution located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 975 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from MECC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,424 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
John Tyler Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. John Tyler Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chester, Virginia. It awarded 1,557 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,270 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, John Tyler Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,207 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. Middletown, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,392 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Lord Fairfax Community College accumulate an average of $11,835 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Lord Fairfax Community College graduates make an average of $30,686 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
With a ranking of #13, Central Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Central Virginia Community College is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,133 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Central Virginia Community College accumulate an average of $8,642 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Central Virginia Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,954 during the early year of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Southside Virginia Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. Southside Virginia Community College is a small public school located in Alberta, Virginia that handed out 952 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Southside Virginia Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,091 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Wytheville Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. This small public school is located in Wytheville, Virginia, and it awarded 473 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,992 in student loans. During the early years of their career, WCC graduates make an average of $34,872 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Advanced Technology Institute 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. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the very small private for-profit school handed out 369 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,220 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $149, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ATI graduates make an average of $33,070 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 10% were women.
Reynolds Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 1,558 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,565 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Reynolds Community College graduates make an average of $35,589 annually. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #18, Piedmont Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized public school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 1,061 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,463 in student loans. During the early years of their career, PVCC graduates make an average of $39,528 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Virginia Highlands Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in Abingdon, Virginia, the small public school handed out 704 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from VHCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,072 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
With a ranking of #20, Southwest Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Southwest Virginia is a public institution located in Cedar Bluff, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 617 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Southwest Virginia graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $27,976 during the early year of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Blue Ridge Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. BRCC is a public institution located in Weyers Cave, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,266 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,973 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, BRCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,198 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
New River Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia list. NRCC is located in Dublin, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 942 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from NRCC accumulate an average of $11,273 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, NRCC graduates make an average of $36,956 annually. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
Thomas Nelson Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. Hampton, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,186 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,759 in student loans. During the early years of their career, TNCC graduates make an average of $31,974 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Fortis College - Richmond came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Fortis College - Richmond is a very small private for-profit school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 139 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,656 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $59, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Fortis College - Richmond, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,412 during the early years of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Germanna Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Germanna Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Locust Grove, Virginia that handed out 2,211 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,889 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Germanna Community College graduates make an average of $33,592 annually. Around 67% of those degree recipients 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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