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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 2023 rankings named Grand Valley State University the best school in Michigan for trade school students working on their basic certificate. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 191 basic certificates to qualified students.
Online courses are available at GVSU, 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, 46% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 24 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Ferris is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 271 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Ferris does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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. This medium-sized public school is located in Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 500 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $7,340 in tuition and fees if they attend LCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,760.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Oakland Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Michigan. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It awarded 235 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,400 to cover tuition and fees at Oakland Community College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Oakland 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. In 2020-2021 about 41% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 24 schools in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Washtenaw Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 709 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees if they attend Washtenaw Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,096.
One thing to take note of is that Washtenaw Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Delta 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. Delta College is a medium-sized public school situated in University Center, Michigan. It awarded 59 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,980 in tuition and fees if they attend Delta College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,250.
Online courses are available at Delta College, 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 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Kellogg Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. Kellogg Community College is a small public school situated in Battle Creek, Michigan. It awarded 71 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
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.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Kellogg Community College. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Madonna University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Madonna University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Livonia, Michigan that handed out 98 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Madonna. In fact, around 73% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Baker College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Baker College is located in Owosso, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 basic certificates to qualified students.
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.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Baker College. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Schoolcraft College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school situated in Livonia, Michigan. It awarded 155 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend Schoolcraft College full time pay an average of $5,650 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,652.
One thing to take note of is that Schoolcraft College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Gogebic 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 #11 on the list. Located in Ironwood, Michigan, the very small public school handed out 9 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gogebic Community College is $7,209. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,108.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Gogebic Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #12 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 42 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UM Dearborn is $14,320. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $29,584.
UM Dearborn 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 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northern Michigan University 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. This medium-sized public school is located in Marquette, Michigan, and it awarded 27 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $12,948 in tuition and fees if they attend Northern Michigan University full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,570.
Online courses are available at Northern Michigan University, 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 39% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Monroe County 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 #14 on the list. Monroe County Community College is a small public school located in Monroe, Michigan that handed out 37 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $7,213 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Monroe County Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,940.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Monroe County Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Central Michigan College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. This small public school is located in Petoskey, Michigan, and it awarded 13 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $7,770 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NCMC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,810.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NCMC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.
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. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 162 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $3,263 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WCCCD. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $3,998.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at WCCCD. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 27% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #17, Kalamazoo Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 40 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,526 in tuition and fees if they attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,596.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Kalamazoo Valley Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Grand Rapids 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 #18 on the list. Grand Rapids Community College is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 39 basic certificates to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $7,929 in tuition and fees if they attend Grand Rapids Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,679.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Grand Rapids Community College. 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.
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.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,908 to cover tuition and fees at Mid Michigan College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Mid Michigan College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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 came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students 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.
One thing to take note of is that Henry Ford College does offer online classes in some areas. 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 ranked #21 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list. LMC is a public institution located in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Since LMC 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.
With a ranking of #22, Macomb Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Warren, Michigan. It awarded 41 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees if they attend Macomb Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state 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. Traverse City, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 22 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Michigan who attend NMC full time pay an average of $9,532 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,048.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NMC. 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 located in Alpena, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13 basic certificates to qualified students.
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 offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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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