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2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.
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 Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 201 schools in the Southeast 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 Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best school in the Southeast Region for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school situated in Orange Beach, Alabama. It awarded 134 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Columbia Southern University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,015. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Columbia Southern University. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rasmussen University - Florida. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Ocala, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 625 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,842 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Florida. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Rasmussen University - Florida 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, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southeast Region . This medium-sized public school is located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,206 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Kentucky who attend Elizabethtown Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical 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, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Pierpont Community and Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Pierpont Community and Technical College is located in Fairmont, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 272 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from West Virginia pay an average of $5,086 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pierpont Community and Technical College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,056.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Pierpont Community and Technical College. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Bluegrass Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southeast Region . Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 3,006 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Kentucky who attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,560.
Online courses are available at Bluegrass Community and Technical 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, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Coastal Pines Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This small public school is located in Waycross, Georgia, and it awarded 1,120 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Georgia who attend Coastal Pines Technical College full time pay an average of $2,759 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,906.
One thing to take note of is that Coastal Pines Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Kennesaw State 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 #7 on the list. KSU Georgia is located in Kennesaw, Georgia and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 98 basic certificates to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $5,786 in tuition and fees if they attend KSU Georgia full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,040.
KSU Georgia 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, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #8, Danville Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Danville Community College is located in Danville, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 325 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Danville Community College is $4,725. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,728.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Danville Community College. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #9, College of Business and Technology-Flagler did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. CBT College - Flagler is a private for-profit institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 141 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend CBT College - Flagler, expect to pay an average of $13,152 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that CBT College - Flagler does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 10% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on College of Business and Technology-Flagler
Georgia Northwestern Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rome, Georgia. It awarded 2,064 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,112 in tuition and fees if they attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,512.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Florida SouthWestern State College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. FSW is located in Fort Myers, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 268 basic certificates to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $3,401 in tuition and fees if they attend FSW full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,979.
One thing to take note of is that FSW does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Marietta, Georgia, and it awarded 3,377 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Chattahoochee Technical College is $3,252. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,652.
Chattahoochee Technical 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 56% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northern Kentucky 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. NKU is a fairly large public school situated in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It awarded 16 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,592 in tuition and fees if they attend NKU full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $20,848.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NKU. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Trident Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Trident Technical College is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,107 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,059 in tuition and fees if they attend Trident Technical College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,606.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Trident Technical College. In 2020-2021 about 75% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. PVCC is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 212 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $4,790 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend PVCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,793.
One thing to take note of is that PVCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 56% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Madisonville 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 #16 on the list. Madisonville Community College is a small public school located in Madisonville, Kentucky that handed out 1,083 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Madisonville Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Madisonville Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Valencia College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Orlando, Florida, the large public school handed out 7,875 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Valencia College is $2,474. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,383.
Valencia 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, 84% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Remington College - Lafayette Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and it awarded 89 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Remington College - Lafayette Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Jefferson Community and Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 2,430 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees if they attend Jefferson Community and Technical College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,560.
Jefferson Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
Gwinnett 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 #20 on the list. Located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,076 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Georgia who attend GTC full time pay an average of $3,286 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,686.
Some students may be able to take online classes at GTC. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #21, Lanier Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Gainesville, Georgia, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,030 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Lanier Technical College is $3,666. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,666.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Lanier Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Motlow State Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Motlow is a medium-sized public school situated in Tullahoma, Tennessee. It awarded 94 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees if they attend Motlow full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,232.
Motlow 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, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Athens Technical College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,174 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,062 in tuition and fees if they attend Athens Technical College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,462.
Online courses are available at Athens Technical 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, 44% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Oconee Fall Line Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This small public school is located in Sandersville, Georgia, and it awarded 800 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,072 in tuition and fees if they attend OFTC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,472.
OFTC 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 56% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
ECPI University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. ECPI University is a fairly large private for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 38 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at ECPI University is $18,484. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
ECPI University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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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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