2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 71 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Panola College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Southwest Region . Panola College is a public institution located in Carthage, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 150 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Panola College full time pay an average of $3,840 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,896.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Panola College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend El Centro College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. El Centro College is a large public school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 2,819 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
El Centro 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Galveston College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Galveston College is a public institution located in Galveston, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 168 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,266 in tuition and fees if they attend Galveston College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,726.
Online courses are available at Galveston 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 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent basic certificate programs at McLennan Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southwest Region . MCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 346 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend MCC full time pay an average of $4,200 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,910.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at MCC. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 71 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the # 5 spot on the list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 4,818 students in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that UOPX - Arizona does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northeast Texas Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. NTCC is located in Mount Pleasant, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 266 basic certificates to qualified students.
Students from Texas who attend NTCC full time pay an average of $5,009 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,449.
One thing to take note of is that NTCC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Remington College - Dallas Campus landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Remington College - Dallas Campus is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 104 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Remington College - Dallas Campus. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Lee 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. Located in Baytown, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,298 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Lee College is $3,882. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,302.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Lee College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 40% took at least some of their classes online.
Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the large public school awarded 1,172 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Arizona who attend ASU - Tempe full time pay an average of $11,618 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $30,592.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at ASU - Tempe. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Central Arizona College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Coolidge, Arizona, the small public school handed out 248 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Online courses are available at Pinal County 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 84% took at least some of their classes online.
Remington College - Fort Worth Campus landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 72 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Remington College - Fort Worth Campus. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Victoria College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Victoria College is a small public school located in Victoria, Texas that handed out 155 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Victoria College is $4,056. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,112.
Victoria College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 67% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Webster, Texas. It awarded 49 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Remington College - North Houston Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 98 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Remington College - North Houston Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Lone Star College System 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. North Harris Montgomery is a large public school situated in The Woodlands, Texas. It awarded 1,579 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Online courses are available at North Harris Montgomery, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Eastern Arizona College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Thatcher, Arizona, the small public school handed out 486 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Eastern Arizona 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 24% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
GateWay Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. GateWay Community College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 928 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Arizona pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend GateWay Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854.
Some students may be able to take online classes at GateWay Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.
Midland College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Midland, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 374 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Midland College full time pay an average of $4,650 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,880.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Midland College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wharton County Junior 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 #19 on the list. Wharton County Junior College is a medium-sized public school situated in Wharton, Texas. It awarded 138 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Wharton County Junior College is $3,804. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,052.
Wharton County Junior College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Collin County Community College District came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in McKinney, Texas, the large public school handed out 1,100 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $3,514 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Collin County Community College District. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,614.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Collin County Community College District. In 2020-2021 about 40% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Collin County Community College District
South Texas 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 #21 on the list. Located in McAllen, Texas, the large public school awarded 967 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that South Texas College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Clovis Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Clovis, New Mexico, the small public school handed out 365 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,736 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Clovis Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $3,224.
Clovis Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.
Texas State Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. TSTC is located in Waco, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 216 basic certificates to qualified students.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since TSTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Weatherford College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Weatherford College is located in Weatherford, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 118 basic certificates to qualified students.
Students from Texas who attend Weatherford College full time pay an average of $6,300 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,610.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Weatherford College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 33% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lamar Institute of Technology landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Lamar Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Beaumont, Texas that handed out 289 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Lamar Institute of Technology full time pay an average of $2,844 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,636.
Lamar Institute of Technology does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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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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