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2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 120 schools in the Great Lakes Region 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 Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Madison Area Technical College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Great Lakes Region . Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 1,263 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Madison College is $4,607. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,812.
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. 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.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 636 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at IUPUI is $10,144. 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the large public school awarded 994 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,992 in tuition and fees if they attend Purdue full time. Those students who come from outside the state 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grand Valley State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 191 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since GVSU does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fox Valley Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Appleton, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,945 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees if they attend FVTC full time. Out-of-state students 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.
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 931 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,641 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Moraine Park Technical College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793.
One thing to take note of is that Moraine Park Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - Illinois 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. Rasmussen University - Illinois is located in Rockford, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 231 basic certificates to qualified students.
Rasmussen University - Illinois does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $14,294. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Illinois. In 2020-2021 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Oakton Community 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 #8 on the list. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 640 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $10,446 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Oakton Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,462.
Oakton Community 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. CVTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,280 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CVTC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CVTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Cincinnati - Clermont College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Batavia, Ohio, and it awarded 211 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Ohio who attend UC Clermont College full time pay an average of $6,364 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,596.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UC Clermont College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on University of Cincinnati - Clermont College
Wisconsin Indianhead 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 #11 on the list. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a small public school located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin that handed out 947 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that WITC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Blackhawk Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Janesville, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 487 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BTC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,793.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at BTC. 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.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school awarded 10,757 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Ivy Tech Community College is $4,637. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,927.
Online courses are available at Ivy Tech Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 33% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
William Rainey Harper College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,494 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Harper College is $9,942. Out-of-state students 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.
College of Lake County landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. College of Lake County is a fairly large public school located in Grayslake, Illinois that handed out 1,378 basic certificates 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.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at College of Lake County. During the 2020-2021 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northeast Wisconsin 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 #16 on the list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 1,319 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend NWTC full time pay an average of $4,814 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,965.
Online courses are available at NWTC, 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 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gateway Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,757 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,766 in tuition and fees if they attend Gateway Technical College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,917.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Gateway Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Ferris State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 271 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Ferris does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
Rasmussen University - Wisconsin 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 #19 on the list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the very small private for-profit school handed out 63 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,208 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
One thing to take note of is that Rasmussen University - Wisconsin does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 96% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Wausau, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,571 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,791 in tuition and fees if they attend North Central Technical College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,512.
North Central Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Indiana University - Southeast came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is a small public school situated in New Albany, Indiana. It awarded 21 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $7,941 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Indiana University - Southeast. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $21,301.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Indiana University - Southeast. In fact, around 77% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Kaskaskia College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kaskaskia College is located in Centralia, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 251 basic certificates to qualified students.
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.
Kaskaskia College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Waukesha County 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 #23 on the list. WCTC is a public institution located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 978 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at WCTC is $4,571. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,722.
Some students may be able to take online classes at WCTC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 22% took at least some of their classes online.
ranked #24 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Western Technical College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the small public school awarded 483 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,636 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western Technical College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,788.
One thing to take note of is that Western Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% 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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