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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one 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 the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 392 schools in the Plains States 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.
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Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Central Community College the most popular school in the Plains States Region for trade school students working on their degree. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Grand Island, Nebraska that handed out 2,601 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,313 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Central Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,791 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. WSU Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 1,819 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,279 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $159. Once they receive their degree, WSU Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,673 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, the large public school awarded 4,028 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,831 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $95. During the early years of their career, DMACC graduates make an average of $37,576 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
The programs at Hennepin Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Plains States Region . Hennepin Technical College is a small public school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 1,738 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,452 in student loans.After graduating from Hennepin Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,797 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 29% were women.
Out of the 392 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 1,848 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College accumulate an average of $11,311 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Western Iowa Tech Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,155 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Johnson County Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,809 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from JCCC accumulate an average of $11,446 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from JCCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,711 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Washburn Institute of Technology landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 891 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,739 in student loans.After graduating from Washburn Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,073 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
Hutchinson Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Hutchinson, Kansas, the small public school awarded 1,608 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College accumulate an average of $12,990 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Hutchinson Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,555 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Saint Paul College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Saint Paul College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,328 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $15,827 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Saint Paul College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,206 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Southeast Community College Area did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Southeast Community College is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,344 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,400 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $144. Once they receive their degree, Southeast Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,034 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
Anoka Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Anoka, Minnesota, and it awarded 985 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Anoka Technical College accumulate an average of $16,129 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Anoka Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,893 during the early years of their career. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school situated in Kansas City, Kansas. It awarded 1,167 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,208 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Kansas City Kansas Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,587 during the early years of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #13, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 2,365 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College accumulate an average of $15,926 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 $68 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Kirkwood Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,090 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Ranken Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 754 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,642 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $158, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Ranken Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,629 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 7% were women.
Metropolitan Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,823 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $9,170 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,258 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Ozarks Technical Community College 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. OTC is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,249 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from OTC accumulate an average of $15,106 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, OTC graduates make an average of $29,979 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Century 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. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,113 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Century College accumulate an average of $18,493 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Century College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,997 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
With a ranking of #18, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 3,677 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,152 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, MCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,267 during the early year of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #19, State Technical College of Missouri did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. STC is a small public school situated in Linn, Missouri. It awarded 880 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,462 in student loans.After graduating from STC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,731 during the early years of their career. Around 18% of those degree recipients were women.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 690 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,465 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Minnesota West, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,213 during the early years of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,503 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $29,848 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $483. Once they receive their degree, Mizzou graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,901 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Wichita Technical Institute came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This very small private for-profit school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 560 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WTI accumulate an average of $16,927 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, WTI graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,531 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
With a ranking of #23, Grantham University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized public school is located in LIttle Rock, Arkansas, and it awarded 1,707 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Grantham University accumulate an average of $28,442 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Grantham University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,745 during the early years of their career. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. LATI is a small public school situated in Watertown, South Dakota. It awarded 793 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from LATI accumulate an average of $13,201 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, LATI graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,525 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
Bismarck State College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. BSC is a small public school situated in Bismarck, North Dakota. It awarded 1,078 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from BSC accumulate an average of $12,791 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from BSC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,404 during the early years of their career. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Plains States 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 Plains States Region of the U.S.
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA |
| 52 | Northeast Community College | Norfolk, NE |
| 53 | Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN |
| 54 | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO |
| 55 | Aveda Institute - Minneapolis | Minneapolis, MN |
| 55 | North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City, IA |
| 57 | North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton, ND |
| 58 | Concorde Career Colleges | Kansas City, MO |
| 59 | Mitchell Technical College | Mitchell, SD |
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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