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Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky

2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky

18 Schools Ranked
$4,575 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.

The Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 18 schools in Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

2,206 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Elizabethtown Community and Technical College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Kentucky. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Report

3,006 Total Awards
$4,640 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 18 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Bluegrass Community and Technical College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky. It awarded 3,006 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College is $4,640. Those students who come from outside the state 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.

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#3

Madisonville Community College

Madisonville, Kentucky
1,083 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Madisonville Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Madisonville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,083 students 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Madisonville Community College Report

2,430 Total Awards
$4,640 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jefferson Community and Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. This fairly large public school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,430 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Jefferson Community and Technical College is $4,640. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,560.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Jefferson Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College

2,462 Total Awards
$4,640 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Gateway Community and Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This small public school is located in Florence, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,462 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Gateway full time pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,560.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Gateway does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

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#6

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky
353 Total Awards

Western Kentucky University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 353 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

WKU 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 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Western Kentucky University

#7

Somerset Community College

Somerset, Kentucky
1,551 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Somerset Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Somerset, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,551 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend SCC full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SCC. In 2020-2021 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Somerset Community College Report

1,788 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

West Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Paducah, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,788 students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

Some students may be able to take online classes at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on West Kentucky Community and Technical College

1,534 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the small public school handed out 1,534 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SKYCTC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480.

Some students may be able to take online classes at SKYCTC. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Report

1,604 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Ashland Community and Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. This small public school is located in Ashland, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,604 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they attend ACTC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

Online courses are available at ACTC, 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 56% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Ashland Community and Technical College Report

2,121 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Maysville Community and Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Maysville Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Maysville, Kentucky that handed out 2,121 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they attend Maysville Community and Technical College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Maysville Community and Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.

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#12

Hopkinsville Community College

Hopkinsville, Kentucky
622 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Hopkinsville Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Hopkinsville Community College is a small public school located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky that handed out 622 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Hopkinsville Community College full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Hopkinsville Community College. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Hopkinsville Community College

#13

Sullivan University

Louisville, Kentucky
81 Total Awards

Sullivan University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Sullivan University is located in Louisville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 81 basic certificates to qualified students.

One thing to take note of is that Sullivan University does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#14

Henderson Community College

Henderson, Kentucky
309 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Henderson 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. Located in Henderson, Kentucky, the small public school handed out 309 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Henderson Community College full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Henderson Community College. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Henderson Community College

520 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Southeast Kentucky Community and 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 #15 on the list. Southeast is a small public school situated in Cumberland, Kentucky. It awarded 520 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Southeast full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480.

Online courses are available at Southeast, 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, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#16

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Prestonsburg, Kentucky
719 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Big Sandy Community and Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky that handed out 719 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Big Sandy Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480.

Online courses are available at Big Sandy Community and Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Big Sandy Community and Technical College

1,861 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Owensboro Community and 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 #17 on the list. Owensboro Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Owensboro, Kentucky that handed out 1,861 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Owensboro Community and Technical College is $4,560. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480.

Online courses are available at Owensboro Community and Technical 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 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Owensboro Community and Technical College Report

1,044 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Hazard Community and Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Hazard, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,044 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Hazard Community and Technical College is $4,560. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480.

Hazard 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. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Hazard Community and Technical College Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 18 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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