Find Trade Colleges

Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland

2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland

13 Schools Ranked
$7,781 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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 Maryland ranking. This report analyzed 13 schools in Maryland to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore, Maryland
67 Total Awards
$3,314 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Baltimore City Community College the best school in Maryland for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the small public school handed out 67 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $3,314 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Baltimore City Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,394.

Online courses are available at Baltimore City Community College, 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 100% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Baltimore City Community College Report

#2

Anne Arundel Community College

Arnold, Maryland
690 Total Awards
$9,230 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 13 schools in Maryland that were part of this year’s ranking, Anne Arundel Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. AACC is located in Arnold, Maryland and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 690 basic certificates to qualified students.

Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $9,230 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend AACC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,760.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at AACC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Anne Arundel Community College Report

#3

Montgomery College

Rockville, Maryland
171 Total Awards
$10,254 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Montgomery College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Maryland. This fairly large public school is located in Rockville, Maryland, and it awarded 171 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Maryland who attend Montgomery College full time pay an average of $10,254 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,061.

Online courses are available at Montgomery 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 32% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Montgomery College Report

#4

College of Southern Maryland

La Plata, Maryland
144 Total Awards
$7,200 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 13 schools in Maryland that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Southern Maryland landed the # 4 spot on the list. CSM is a small public school situated in La Plata, Maryland. It awarded 144 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $7,200 in tuition and fees if they attend CSM full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,240.

One thing to take note of is that CSM does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.

Full College of Southern Maryland Report

114 Total Awards
$12,606 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at University of Maryland - Baltimore County helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Maryland. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the fairly large public school awarded 114 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Students from Maryland who attend UMBC full time pay an average of $12,606 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $29,370.

Online courses are available at UMBC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#6

Hagerstown Community College

Hagerstown, Maryland
114 Total Awards
$6,390 Average Tuition & Fees

Hagerstown 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 #6 on the list. Located in Hagerstown, Maryland, the small public school awarded 114 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $6,390 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend HCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,190.

Online courses are available at HCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Hagerstown Community College

#7

Chesapeake College

Wye Mills, Maryland
6 Total Awards
$6,344 Average Tuition & Fees

Chesapeake College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland list. Chesapeake College is a small public school situated in Wye Mills, Maryland. It awarded 6 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $6,344 in tuition and fees if they attend Chesapeake College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,504.

Online courses are available at Chesapeake 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 76% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Chesapeake College Report

#8

Howard Community College

Columbia, Maryland
48 Total Awards
$7,704 Average Tuition & Fees

Howard Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland list. Located in Columbia, Maryland, the medium-sized public school handed out 48 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $7,704 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend HCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,459.

One thing to take note of is that HCC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Howard Community College

525 Total Awards
$6,918 Average Tuition & Fees

Community College of Baltimore County 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. CCBC is located in Baltimore, Maryland and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 525 basic certificates to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $6,918 in tuition and fees if they attend CCBC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,062.

CCBC 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 68% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

Frederick Community College

Frederick, Maryland
101 Total Awards
$7,444 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Frederick Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Frederick Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Frederick, Maryland. It awarded 101 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $7,444 in tuition and fees if they attend Frederick Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,844.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Frederick Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Frederick Community College Report

#11

Cecil College

North East, Maryland
23 Total Awards
$8,310 Average Tuition & Fees

Cecil College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in North East, Maryland, the small public school handed out 23 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $8,310 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cecil College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,510.

Cecil 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, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Cecil College

#12

Allegany College of Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland
17 Total Awards
$8,720 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Allegany College of Maryland did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Allegany College of Maryland is a small public school located in Cumberland, Maryland that handed out 17 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $8,720 in tuition and fees if they attend Allegany College of Maryland full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,060.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Allegany College of Maryland. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Allegany College of Maryland Report

#13

Wor-Wic Community College

Salisbury, Maryland
127 Total Awards
$6,720 Average Tuition & Fees

Wor-Wic Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland ranking. Located in Salisbury, Maryland, the small public school handed out 127 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $6,720 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wor-Wic Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,280.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Wor-Wic 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.

Full Wor-Wic Community College Report

Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.