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Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin

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2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin

15 Schools Ranked
$4,603 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

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 Wisconsin ranking. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in Wisconsin to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
1,263 Total Awards
$4,607 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Madison Area Technical College the best school in Wisconsin for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 1,263 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,607 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Madison College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,812.

Madison 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. During the 2020-2021 year, about 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Madison Area Technical College

#2

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
1,945 Total Awards
$4,826 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Fox Valley Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This fairly large public school is located in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,945 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Wisconsin who attend FVTC full time pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,977.

One thing to take note of is that FVTC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 31% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Fox Valley Technical College

#3

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
931 Total Awards
$4,641 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Moraine Park Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 931 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Wisconsin who attend Moraine Park Technical College full time pay an average of $4,641 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Moraine Park Technical College. 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.

Read More…

#4

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
1,280 Total Awards
$4,642 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,280 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Students from Wisconsin who attend CVTC full time pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,793.

Some students may be able to take online classes at CVTC. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#5

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Shell Lake, Wisconsin
947 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. This small public school is located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and it awarded 947 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

WITC 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, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Report

#6

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, Wisconsin
487 Total Awards
$4,642 Average Tuition & Fees

Blackhawk Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. BTC is a small public school situated in Janesville, Wisconsin. It awarded 487 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees if they attend BTC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,793.

Online courses are available at BTC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Blackhawk Technical College Report

1,319 Total Awards
$4,814 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking. NWTC is a fairly large public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,319 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,814 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NWTC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,965.

NWTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 41% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

#8

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
1,757 Total Awards
$4,766 Average Tuition & Fees

Gateway Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,757 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Wisconsin who attend Gateway Technical College full time pay an average of $4,766 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,917.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Gateway Technical 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.

Read full report on Gateway Technical College

#9

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, Wisconsin
1,571 Total Awards
$3,791 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This medium-sized public school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,571 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Wisconsin who attend North Central Technical College full time pay an average of $3,791 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,512.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since North Central Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin
978 Total Awards
$4,571 Average Tuition & Fees

Waukesha County Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking. WCTC is located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 978 basic certificates to qualified students.

Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,571 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WCTC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,722.

Some students may be able to take online classes at WCTC. In fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#11

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin
483 Total Awards
$4,636 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Technical College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,788.

Western Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#12

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Fennimore, Wisconsin
244 Total Awards
$4,571 Average Tuition & Fees

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Southwest Tech is a public institution located in Fennimore, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 244 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,571 in tuition and fees if they attend Southwest Tech full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,731.

Online courses are available at Southwest Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 35% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

#13

Mid-State Technical College

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
435 Total Awards
$4,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Mid-State 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 #13 on the list. This small public school is located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and it awarded 435 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,760 in tuition and fees if they attend Mid-State full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,850.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Mid-State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#14

Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, Wisconsin
388 Total Awards
$4,303 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, Lakeshore Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Cleveland, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 388 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Wisconsin who attend LTC full time pay an average of $4,303 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,326.

Some students may be able to take online classes at LTC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#15

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
905 Total Awards
$4,867 Average Tuition & Fees

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 905 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MATC is $4,867. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,018.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MATC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Report

Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 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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