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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, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 2,206 students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is $4,560. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

One thing to take note of is that Elizabethtown Community and Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the fairly large public school awarded 3,006 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,560.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Bluegrass Community and Technical College

#3

Madisonville Community College

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Madisonville Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Madisonville, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 1,083 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

Online courses are available at Madisonville Community 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 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Madisonville Community College

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. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 2,430 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Jefferson Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,560.

One thing to take note of is that Jefferson Community and Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Jefferson Community and Technical College Report

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gateway Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Gateway is a small public school situated in Florence, Kentucky. It awarded 2,462 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Gateway. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,560.

Gateway does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Gateway Community and Technical College

#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. Western Kentucky University is a fairly large public school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky that handed out 353 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Online courses are available at WKU, 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, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#7

Somerset Community College

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

Somerset Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Somerset, Kentucky, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,551 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480.

SCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Somerset Community College

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

West 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 #8 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Paducah, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,788 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend West Kentucky 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.

West Kentucky 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 fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

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

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the small public school handed out 1,534 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

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

SKYCTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

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

Ashland Community and Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. This small public school is located in Ashland, Kentucky, and it awarded 1,604 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

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

ACTC 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. 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 ranked #11 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in Maysville, Kentucky, the small public school awarded 2,121 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,480.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Maysville Community and Technical College. 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 Maysville Community and Technical College Report

#12

Hopkinsville Community College

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

Hopkinsville Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 622 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

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

Hopkinsville Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Hopkinsville Community College

#13

Sullivan University

Louisville, Kentucky
81 Total Awards

Sullivan University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the small private for-profit school awarded 81 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Online courses are available at Sullivan University, 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, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Sullivan University

#14

Henderson Community College

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

Henderson Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Henderson Community College is located in Henderson, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 309 basic certificates to qualified students.

Students from Kentucky who attend Henderson 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.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Henderson Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Henderson Community College Report

520 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

Southeast does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.

Full Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Report

#16

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

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

With a ranking of #16, Big Sandy Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. It awarded 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. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Big Sandy Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 82% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

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

Owensboro Community and Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Owensboro Community and Technical College is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,861 basic certificates to qualified students.

Students from Kentucky who attend Owensboro 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.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Owensboro Community and Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Owensboro Community and Technical College

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

With a ranking of #18, Hazard Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Hazard Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Hazard, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,044 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 Hazard Community and Technical College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480.

Hazard Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

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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