2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools
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 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 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 809 schools in the United States to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Saint Vincent College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the United States. Located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Saint Vincent, expect to pay an average of $39,903 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Saint Vincent. During the 2020-2021 year, about 6% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent basic certificate programs at University of Providence helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the United States. Great Falls, Montana is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 48 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at University of Providence is $27,606. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, University of Providence is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Columbia Southern University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the United States. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school situated in Orange Beach, Alabama. It awarded 134 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Columbia Southern University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,015. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Bismarck State College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the small public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from North Dakota who attend BSC full time pay an average of $5,143 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,227.
Online courses are available at BSC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Hennepin Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 578 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,050 to cover tuition and fees at North Hennepin Community College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
North Hennepin Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
National University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since National University does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. UMN Crookston is located in Crookston, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 11 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at UMN Crookston is $13,010. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UMN Crookston does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #9, Panola College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Carthage, Texas, the small public school awarded 150 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Panola College is $3,840. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,896.
Online courses are available at Panola College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Santa Barbara City College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. SBCC is located in Santa Barbara, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 119 basic certificates to qualified students.
Students from California who attend SBCC full time pay an average of $1,234 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,322.
Online courses are available at SBCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Madison College is a fairly large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,263 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,607 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Madison College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,812.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Madison College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Bethel University Minnesota does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $41,270. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bethel University Minnesota. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 19 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Thomas Jefferson University, expect to pay an average of $44,200 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Thomas Jefferson University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2020-2021 about 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Merced College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Merced Community College District is a public institution located in Merced, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 287 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Merced Community College District is $1,194. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,890.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Merced Community College District. In 2020-2021 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Eastern is a public institution located in Richmond, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 127 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $9,844 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Eastern. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $20,222.
Eastern does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 204 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend BHCC full time pay an average of $5,280 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,224.
Online courses are available at BHCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of North Dakota landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 257 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from North Dakota who attend UND full time pay an average of $10,951 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,570.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UND does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Crafton Hills College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Yucaipa, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 216 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend CHC full time pay an average of $1,182 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,942.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CHC. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
North Seattle College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. North Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 180 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from Washington pay an average of $5,058 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend North Seattle. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,547.
North Seattle does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 45% took at least some of their classes online.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #20 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 636 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,144 in tuition and fees if they attend IUPUI full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $32,582.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at IUPUI. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #21, Rasmussen University - Florida did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Ocala, Florida, the medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 625 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Rasmussen University - Florida does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $13,842. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Rasmussen University - Florida does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 93% took at least some of their classes online.
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 994 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $9,992 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Purdue. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $28,794.
Online courses are available at Purdue, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Grand Valley State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 191 students in 2021-2022.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at GVSU. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Fox Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 1,945 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend FVTC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,977.
Some students may be able to take online classes at FVTC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 31% took at least some of their classes online.
Columbia Gorge Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in The Dalles, Oregon, the small public school handed out 30 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Columbia Gorge Community College is $5,472. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,008.
Columbia Gorge Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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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