2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 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 Michigan ranking. Our analysis looked at 24 schools in Michigan 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 Michigan
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Grand Valley State University to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Michigan. Located in Allendale, Michigan, the large public school handed out 191 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at GVSU. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 46% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 271 students in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that Ferris does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Lansing Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. LCC is a public institution located in Lansing, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 500 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at LCC is $7,340. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,760.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at LCC. In 2020-2021 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Oakland Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 235 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Oakland Community College is $5,400. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Oakland Community College. In fact, around 41% 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 Washtenaw Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 709 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Washtenaw Community College full time pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,096.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Washtenaw Community College. In 2020-2021 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #6, Delta College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in University Center, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Delta College full time pay an average of $6,980 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,250.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Delta College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Kellogg Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Kellogg Community College is located in Battle Creek, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 71 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $7,013 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kellogg Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,038.
Kellogg Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #8, Madonna University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Livonia, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 98 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Madonna 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 73% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Baker 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 #9 on the list. Owosso, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 4 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $12,710 to cover tuition and fees at Baker College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Baker College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Schoolcraft 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 #10 on the list. Located in Livonia, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 155 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Schoolcraft College is $5,650. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,652.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Schoolcraft College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #11, Gogebic Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Gogebic Community College is a very small public school located in Ironwood, Michigan that handed out 9 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gogebic Community College is $7,209. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,108.
Gogebic 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 61% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. UM Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 42 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $14,320 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UM Dearborn. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $29,584.
Online courses are available at UM Dearborn, 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.
Northern Michigan University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized public school located in Marquette, Michigan that handed out 27 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $12,948 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Northern Michigan University. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,570.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Northern Michigan University does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 39% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #14, Monroe County Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Monroe County Community College is located in Monroe, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 37 basic certificates to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $7,213 in tuition and fees if they attend Monroe County Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,940.
Online courses are available at Monroe County 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, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
North Central Michigan College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This small public school is located in Petoskey, Michigan, and it awarded 13 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NCMC is $7,770. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,810.
NCMC 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. During the 2020-2021 year, about 42% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wayne County Community College District 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. WCCCD is located in Detroit, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 162 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $3,263 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WCCCD. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $3,998.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WCCCD. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 27% took at least some of their classes online.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the medium-sized public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College full time pay an average of $6,526 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,596.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Grand Rapids Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Grand Rapids Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 39 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Grand Rapids Community College is $7,929. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,679.
Grand Rapids Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 74% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Mid Michigan 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 #19 on the list. Mid Michigan College is located in Harrison, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 37 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Mid Michigan College is $8,908. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Mid Michigan College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Henry Ford 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 #20 on the list. Henry Ford College is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 90 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $5,308 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Henry Ford College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,348.
Henry Ford 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 90% took at least some of their classes online.
Lake Michigan College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Lake Michigan College is a small public school located in Benton Harbor, Michigan that handed out 14 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
LMC is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Macomb Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 41 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Macomb Community College is $6,210. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,830.
One thing to take note of is that Macomb Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Northwestern Michigan College is a small public school located in Traverse City, Michigan that handed out 22 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NMC is $9,532. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,048.
Online courses are available at NMC, 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, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Alpena Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Alpena Community College is a small public school situated in Alpena, Michigan. It awarded 13 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Alpena Community College, expect to pay an average of $7,995 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Alpena 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. 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.
View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 24 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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