Find Trade Colleges
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.
Featured schools near , edit
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 . This small public school is located in Carthage, Texas, and it awarded 150 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,840 in tuition and fees if they attend Panola College full time. 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent basic certificate programs at El Centro College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southwest Region . This large public school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 2,819 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at El Centro College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 71 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Galveston College landed the # 3 spot on the list. 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.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $3,266 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Galveston College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,726.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Galveston College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% 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 McLennan Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. MCC is a public institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 346 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,200 in tuition and fees if they attend MCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,910.
MCC 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 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent basic certificate programs at University of Phoenix - Arizona helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Southwest Region . Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the large private for-profit school awarded 4,818 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UOPX - Arizona. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #6, Northeast Texas Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Mount Pleasant, Texas, the small public school awarded 266 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,009 in tuition and fees if they attend NTCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,449.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NTCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
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 situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 104 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Remington College - Dallas Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
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. This medium-sized public school is located in Baytown, Texas, and it awarded 2,298 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Texas who attend Lee College full time pay an average of $3,882 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,302.
Lee College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 40% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #9, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the large public school handed out 1,172 basic certificate awards 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.
ASU - Tempe does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Central Arizona College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Central Arizona College is a small public school located in Coolidge, Arizona that handed out 248 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Pinal County Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Remington College - Fort Worth Campus 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 #11 on the list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 72 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Remington College - Fort Worth Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #12, Victoria College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Victoria, Texas, the small public school handed out 155 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,056 in tuition and fees if they attend Victoria College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,112.
Online courses are available at Victoria 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, 67% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Webster, Texas is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 49 students in 2021-2022.
Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Read full report on Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus
Remington College - North Houston Campus 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. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 98 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Remington College - North Houston Campus. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Read full report on Remington College - North Houston Campus
Lone Star College System ranked #15 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school awarded 1,579 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
One thing to take note of is that North Harris Montgomery does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Eastern Arizona 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. Eastern Arizona College is a small public school situated in Thatcher, Arizona. It awarded 486 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Online courses are available at Eastern Arizona 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, 24% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
GateWay Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. GateWay Community College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 928 basic certificates to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they attend GateWay Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,854.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since GateWay Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Midland College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Midland, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 374 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $4,650 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Midland College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,880.
Midland 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, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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. Located in Wharton, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 138 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $3,804 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wharton County Junior College. Those students who come from outside the state 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 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 McKinney, Texas, the large public school awarded 1,100 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 40% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Collin County Community College District
South Texas College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 967 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Some students may be able to take online classes at South Texas College. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Clovis Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Clovis Community College is a public institution located in Clovis, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 365 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from New Mexico who attend Clovis Community College full time pay an average of $1,736 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $3,224.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Clovis Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 56% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Texas State Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. TSTC is a fairly large public school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 216 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
TSTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 118 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $6,300 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Weatherford College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,610.
One thing to take note of is that Weatherford College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #25, Lamar Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. 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.
Online courses are available at Lamar Institute of Technology, 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 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Narrow Schools by State
View Best Basic Certificate Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >
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.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.