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.
If you want to attend Saint Vincent, expect to pay an average of $38,741 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at Saint Vincent, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 40% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
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.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $26,662 to cover tuition and fees at University of Providence. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
University of Providence is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Columbia Southern University is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate.
The average tuition and fees at Columbia Southern University is $5,775. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Since Columbia Southern University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
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.
Full-time students from North Dakota pay an average of $4,926 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BSC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,930.
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 fact, around 66% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
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.
North Hennepin Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $4,882. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at North Hennepin Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs.
Students from Pennsylvania who attend Edinboro full time pay an average of $10,543 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,062.
Online courses are available at Edinboro, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
National University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list.
National University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 39% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Minnesota - Crookston 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 #8 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $12,514 to cover tuition and fees at UMN Crookston. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UMN Crookston. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Panola College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Panola College is $3,672. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,680.
One thing to take note of is that Panola College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #10, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate.
Students from California who attend SBCC full time pay an average of $1,232 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,912.
SBCC 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Madison College is $4,600. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,769.
Online courses are available at Madison College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #12 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list.
If you want to attend Bethel University Minnesota, expect to pay an average of $40,080 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Bethel University Minnesota does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, Thomas Jefferson University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate.
The average tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson University is $42,966. 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 Thomas Jefferson University does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Merced College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Merced Community College District. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,444.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Merced Community College District. During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $9,752 in tuition and fees if they attend Eastern full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $20,024.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Eastern does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
Students from Massachusetts who attend BHCC full time pay an average of $5,280 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,224.
If you are interested in distance education, BHCC is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
With a ranking of #17, University of North Dakota did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate.
In-state students pay an average of $10,596 in tuition and fees if they attend UND full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,037.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UND. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Crafton Hills 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 #18 on the list.
Students from California who attend CHC full time pay an average of $1,178 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,498.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CHC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
North Seattle College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs.
If you want to attend North Seattle, expect to pay an average of $4,799 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Seattle. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #20, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate.
In-state students pay an average of $10,044 in tuition and fees if they attend IUPUI full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $32,101.
IUPUI 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, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rasmussen University - Florida ranked #21 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools list.
Rasmussen University - Florida does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $13,635. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Florida. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs.
Students from Indiana who attend Purdue full time pay an average of $9,992 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $28,794.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Purdue. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Grand Valley State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at GVSU. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FVTC is $4,746. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,861.
One thing to take note of is that FVTC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 42% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Columbia Gorge Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
Full-time students from Oregon pay an average of $4,752 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Columbia Gorge Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,468.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Columbia Gorge Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
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% Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best trade schools ranking:
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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