2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois
Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 37 schools in Illinois 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 Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Rasmussen University - Illinois to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Illinois. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 231 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $14,294 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Illinois. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Oakton Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 640 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend Oakton Community College full time pay an average of $10,446 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,462.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Oakton Community College. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 37 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, William Rainey Harper College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,494 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend Harper College full time pay an average of $9,942 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,754.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Harper College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 1,378 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,842 in tuition and fees if they attend College of Lake County full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,118.
College of Lake County 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 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 37 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Kaskaskia College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Centralia, Illinois, the small public school handed out 251 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $7,530 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kaskaskia College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,330.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Kaskaskia College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X 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 #6 on the list. Malcolm X College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 695 basic certificates to qualified students.
Online courses are available at Malcolm X College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 77% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
Illinois Valley Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Oglesby, Illinois, the small public school handed out 329 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend IVCC full time pay an average of $13,169 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,314.
IVCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 40% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Morton College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Morton College is a small public school situated in Cicero, Illinois. It awarded 89 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $8,852 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Morton College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,900.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Morton College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 36% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
South Suburban College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. SSC is a small public school situated in South Holland, Illinois. It awarded 161 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $11,033 in tuition and fees if they attend SSC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,683.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SSC. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #10, Highland Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Highland Community College is a small public school situated in Freeport, Illinois. It awarded 234 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend Highland Community College full time pay an average of $6,904 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,048.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Highland Community College. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Waubonsee is a medium-sized public school situated in Sugar Grove, Illinois. It awarded 485 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,626 in tuition and fees if they attend Waubonsee full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,496.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Waubonsee. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Joliet Junior 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 #12 on the list. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,163 basic certificates to qualified students.
Students from Illinois who attend Joliet Junior College full time pay an average of $12,750 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,800.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Joliet Junior College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
John A Logan 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 #13 on the list. Carterville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 150 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $5,990 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend John A Logan College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,370.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at John A Logan College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 45% took at least some of their classes online.
Kishwaukee College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Malta, Illinois, the small public school awarded 205 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,390 in tuition and fees if they attend Kishwaukee College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,800.
Kishwaukee College 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 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, the small public school handed out 656 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at LLCC is $6,840. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,068.
Some students may be able to take online classes at LLCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, Sauk Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Sauk Valley Community College is a public institution located in Dixon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 264 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $11,580 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Sauk Valley Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,840.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Sauk Valley Community College. 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.
Rock Valley College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Rockford, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 429 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend Rock Valley College full time pay an average of $10,484 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $20,384.
Rock Valley College 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 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Parkland College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 475 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Parkland College is $11,580. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,930.
Parkland College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Prairie State College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the small public school handed out 292 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend Prairie State College full time pay an average of $9,342 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,064.
One thing to take note of is that Prairie State College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois list. MVCC is a public institution located in Palos Hills, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,781 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,310 in tuition and fees if they attend MVCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,630.
One thing to take note of is that MVCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lake Land 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 #21 on the list. Located in Mattoon, Illinois, the small public school handed out 836 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,104 in tuition and fees if they attend Lake Land College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,905.
Lake Land College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
Kankakee Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Kankakee Community College is a small public school situated in Kankakee, Illinois. It awarded 268 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $13,200 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kankakee Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,560.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Kankakee Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
Elgin Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 576 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $7,140 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend ECC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,516.
One thing to take note of is that ECC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Illinois list. Kennedy-King College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 216 basic certificates to qualified students.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Kennedy-King College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #25, Illinois Central College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. East Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 881 students in 2021-2022.
ICC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >
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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