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