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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
The Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 60 schools in West Virginia 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.
Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Martinsburg College the most popular school in West Virginia for trade school students working on their degree. Martinsburg College is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 888 degrees to qualified students.
Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Pierpont Community and Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Pierpont Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Fairmont, West Virginia. It awarded 706 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Pierpont Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $13,552 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Pierpont Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $47,123 annually. Around 43% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Valley College-Martinsburg. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Martinsburg, West Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 368 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,870 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $63.After graduating from Valley College of Technology, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $23,472 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 307 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,796 in student loans.After graduating from WVJC Morgantown, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,451 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
Read full report on West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a great place for trade school students. This small public school is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and it awarded 638 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $16,189 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,100 during the early year of their career. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Located in Mount Gay, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 476 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Southern, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,163 during the early years of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Report
New River Community and Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. New River Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Beaver, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 327 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,214 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, New River Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $29,145 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
West Virginia Northern Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. This small public school is located in Wheeling, West Virginia, and it awarded 282 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,507 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, WVNCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,478 during the early year of their career. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on West Virginia Northern Community College
Academy of Careers and Technology came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking. Located in Beckley, West Virginia, the very small public school handed out 91 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Academy of Careers and Technology graduates make an average of $23,025 annually. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
BridgeValley Community & Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking. BridgeValley Community & Technical College is a small public school located in South Charleston, West Virginia that handed out 360 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,721 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from BridgeValley Community & Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,780 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Mountwest Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. MCTC is a small public school situated in Huntington, West Virginia. It awarded 292 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MCTC accumulate an average of $9,113 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, MCTC graduates make an average of $32,727 annually. Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Mountwest Community and Technical College
Fred W Eberle Technical Center ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Fred W Eberle Technical Center is located in Buckhannon, West Virginia and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 116 degrees to qualified students.
After graduating from Fred W Eberle Technical Center, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,712 during the early years of their career. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
American Public University System ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Charles Town, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 14,167 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from American Military University accumulate an average of $29,480 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, American Military University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,395 during the early year of their career. Around 36% of those degree recipients were women.
Fairmont State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 863 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Fairmont State accumulate an average of $23,385 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $235, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Fairmont State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,492 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
With a ranking of #15, James Rumsey Technical Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the very small public school awarded 133 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, James Rumsey Technical Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,742 during the early year of their career. Around 24% of those degree recipients were women.
Morgantown Beauty College Inc 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. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 72 students in 2021-2022.
Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
Bluefield State 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. Bluefield, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 250 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Bluefield State College accumulate an average of $23,034 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Bluefield State College graduates make an average of $35,587 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
West Virginia University at Parkersburg ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia list. Parkersburg, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 687 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,731 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, West Virginia University at Parkersburg graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,389 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Marshall University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Marshall University is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,637 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $44,229 in student loans. 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, Marshall University graduates make an average of $46,274 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
With a ranking of #20, West Virginia Junior College - Charleston did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. West Virginia Junior College - Charleston is a very small private for-profit school located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia that handed out 88 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,103 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, WVJC Charleston graduates make an average of $25,750 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
Read full report on West Virginia Junior College - Charleston
With a ranking of #20, West Virginia University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, the large public school awarded 6,534 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WVU accumulate an average of $43,427 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 $498 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, WVU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,248 during the early year of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Ross Medical Education Center - Charleston did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #22 on the list. Ross - Charleston is a private for-profit institution located in Charleston, West Virginia. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 46 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Ross - Charleston accumulate an average of $8,118 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Ross - Charleston graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $23,377 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 98% were women.
With a ranking of #23, International Beauty School 4 did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the very small private for-profit school awarded 80 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,152 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, International Beauty School 4 graduates make an average of $14,752 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 94% were women.
West Liberty University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in West Virginia ranking. West Liberty University is located in West Liberty, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 604 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from West Liberty University accumulate an average of $29,290 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 $240. During the early years of their career, West Liberty University graduates make an average of $45,672 annually. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #25, Carver Career Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Carver Career Center is located in Charleston, West Virginia and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 97 degrees to qualified students.
Once they receive their degree, Carver Career Center graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $17,629 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 62% 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.