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