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2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
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 Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 91 schools in the Plains States 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 Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Bismarck State College the best school in the Plains States Region for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the small public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from North Dakota who attend BSC full time pay an average of $5,143 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,227.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at BSC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means North Hennepin Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 578 students in 2021-2022.
North Hennepin Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,050. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at North Hennepin 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 82% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent basic certificate programs at University of Minnesota - Crookston helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the Plains States Region . Located in Crookston, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 11 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend UMN Crookston, expect to pay an average of $13,010 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at UMN Crookston, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Bethel University Minnesota is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 15 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $41,270 to cover tuition and fees at Bethel University Minnesota. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Online courses are available at Bethel University Minnesota, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 91 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the # 5 spot on the list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 257 basic certificates to qualified students.
Students from North Dakota who attend UND full time pay an average of $10,951 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,570.
UND 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, 69% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Dunwoody College of Technology landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 20 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Dunwoody College of Technology is $24,611. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Dunwoody College of Technology. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This small private for-profit school is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 355 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota, expect to pay an average of $13,765 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Rasmussen University - Minnesota. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 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. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 183 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UMN Twin Cities is $15,859. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $35,099.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UMN Twin Cities. During the 2020-2021 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Rochester, Minnesota that handed out 123 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Rochester Community and Technical College is $5,670. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at Rochester 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 61% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
Anoka Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Anoka Technical College is located in Anoka, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 526 basic certificates to qualified students.
If you want to attend Anoka Technical College, expect to pay an average of $6,075 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Anoka Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
Ranken 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 #11 on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 219 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $16,960 to cover tuition and fees at Ranken Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Ranken Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 14 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you are interested in distance education, Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Read full report on Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City
With a ranking of #13, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a small public school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 102 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Minnesota who attend MSU Moorhead full time pay an average of $10,236 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,072.
One thing to take note of is that MSU Moorhead does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Central Missouri came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UCM is located in Warrensburg, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 317 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UCM is $9,410. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,450.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UCM. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #15 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lake Area Technical Institute is a small public school located in Watertown, South Dakota that handed out 62 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at LATI is $6,718. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LATI 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.
Century College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 477 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Century College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,105. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Century College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Hawkeye Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 81 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,090 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Hawkeye Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,583.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Hawkeye Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. 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.
Northwest Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Northwest Technical College is a very small public school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 37 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
NTC does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,226. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NTC. In 2020-2021 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Rasmussen University - Kansas ranked #19 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Topeka, Kansas, the very small private for-profit school awarded 65 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,958 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Kansas. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Rasmussen University - Kansas does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 92% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #20, Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a very small private for-profit school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 65 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $12,285 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - North Dakota. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rasmussen University - North Dakota does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #21, Kansas State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Kansas State University is a fairly large public school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 370 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at K -State is $10,448. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $26,519.
K -State 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, 44% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. North Central Kansas Technical College is a very small public school situated in Beloit, Kansas. It awarded 132 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,492 to cover tuition and fees at North Central Kansas Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Central Kansas Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 15% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 63 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Minnesota who attend St. Cloud State University full time pay an average of $10,117 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $20,001.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at St. Cloud State University. In fact, around 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #24, Southeast Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Southeast Tech is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 17 basic certificates to qualified students.
Southeast Tech does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $7,650. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southeast Tech does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 131 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Minnesota who attend Minnesota State Mankato full time pay an average of $9,444 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,814.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Minnesota State Mankato 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.
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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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