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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 524 schools in the Southwest Region 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 the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the most popular school for trade school students in the Southwest Region . University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large private for-profit school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 26,013 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,447 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $155 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UOPX - Arizona graduates make an average of $50,608 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Out of the 524 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Tulsa Technology Center landed the # 2 spot on the list. Tulsa Tech is a small public school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 3,211 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Tulsa Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,478 during the early year of their career. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Lone Star College System is a great place for trade school students. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school awarded 11,449 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,174 in loans while pursuing their degree. 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.
Out of the 524 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jacinto Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. San Jacinto College is located in Pasadena, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8,335 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from San Jacinto College accumulate an average of $11,844 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas State Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. 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. Once they receive their degree, TSTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,389 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 18% were women.
With a ranking of #6, El Centro College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school handed out 10,913 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,877 in student loans.After graduating from El Centro College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,417 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Central New Mexico Community College is a fairly large public school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 7,939 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CNM accumulate an average of $9,753 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CNM, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,582 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #8, South Texas College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,616 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from South Texas College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,327 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Tulsa Welding School-Houston 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. TWS is a small private for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 1,272 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,436 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $185.After graduating from TWS, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,926 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 8% were women.
Houston Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Houston Community College is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 6,679 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Houston Community College accumulate an average of $17,041 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Houston Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,283 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
St Philip’s College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the fairly large public school handed out 2,243 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,175 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, St Philip’s College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,104 during the early year of their career. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
Pima Medical Institute - Tucson landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Tucson, Arizona, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,311 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,980 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $104, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, PMI Tucson graduates make an average of $41,610 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Houston, Texas, the small private for-profit school handed out 1,359 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,261 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $74.After graduating from CHCP - Northwest, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,488 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
Read full report on The College of Health Care Professions - Northwest
Sonoran Desert Institute came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,360 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,659 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Sonoran Desert Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,428 during the early year of their career. Around 2% of those degree recipients were women.
Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 20,117 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,452 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $397, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Texas A&M College Station graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,177 during the early year of their career. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Grand Canyon University 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. Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 29,319 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Grand Canyon University accumulate an average of $32,993 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $223, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Grand Canyon University graduates make an average of $48,396 annually. Around 76% of those degree recipients were women.
Pima Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,307 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,883 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Pima County Community College District graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,116 during the early year of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Western Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Western Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in El Paso, Texas that handed out 888 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,622 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $101 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Western Technical College graduates make an average of $29,145 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 13% were women.
Lee College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Lee College is a medium-sized public school located in Baytown, Texas that handed out 3,677 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,215 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Lee College graduates make an average of $53,502 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 25% were women.
Austin Community College District ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Austin Community College District is located in Austin, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7,243 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $12,611 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Austin Community College District graduates make an average of $39,063 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Universal Technical Institute - Avondale landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. UTI Avondale is a small private for-profit school situated in Avondale, Arizona. It awarded 1,081 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,186 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $187 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UTI Avondale, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,322 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 3% were women.
Read full report on Universal Technical Institute - Avondale
Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the small public school handed out 1,159 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $25,433 during the early year of their career. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee
Universal Technical Institute - Dallas landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Irving, Texas, the small private for-profit school handed out 968 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UTI Dallas accumulate an average of $16,290 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $209, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UTI Dallas, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,570 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 4% were women.
Tarrant County College District came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the large public school awarded 7,513 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Tarrant County College accumulate an average of $13,768 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Tarrant County College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,816 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Tyler Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. Tyler, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,452 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,411 in student loans.After graduating from Tyler Junior College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,511 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
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 Southwest Region of the U.S.
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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