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Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

168 Schools Ranked
$43,986 Average Earnings
$27,381 Avg Student Debt

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 168 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Stephens College

Columbia, Missouri
152 Total Awards

Our analysis found Stephens College to be the best school for trade school students in the Plains States Region . This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 152 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Stephens College Report

#2

Ottawa University - Online

Ottawa, Kansas
95 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Ottawa University - Online helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in the Plains States Region . Located in Ottawa, Kansas, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 95 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Ottawa University - Online Report

#3

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa
919 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Waldorf University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Waldorf is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 919 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Waldorf University

#4

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota
583 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Dakota State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Dakota State is a public institution located in Madison, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 583 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#5

Ottawa University - Kansas City

Overland Park, Kansas
185 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ottawa University - Kansas City. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Ottawa University - Kansas City is a private not-for-profit institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 185 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#6

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri
9,503 Total Awards

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the large public school handed out 9,503 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Report

#7

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
1,147 Total Awards

Bemidji State University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 1,147 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Bemidji State University Report

#8

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, North Dakota
1,078 Total Awards

Bismarck State College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. BSC is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,078 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Bismarck State College

#9

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa
8,469 Total Awards

Iowa State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8,469 degrees to qualified students.

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#10

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
13,676 Total Awards

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large public school handed out 13,676 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#11

University of Minnesota - Crookston

Crookston, Minnesota
446 Total Awards

University of Minnesota - Crookston ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Crookston, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 446 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#12

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska
6,113 Total Awards

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This large public school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 6,113 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#13

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
1,834 Total Awards

Winona State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,834 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Winona State University

#14

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
1,174 Total Awards

Bethel University Minnesota ranked #14 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,174 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Report

#15

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
3,235 Total Awards

Bellevue University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,235 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Bellevue University

#16

Ranken Technical College

Saint Louis, Missouri
754 Total Awards

Ranken Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 754 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Ranken Technical College Report

#17

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
2,755 Total Awards

University of Northern Iowa came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,755 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#18

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota
453 Total Awards

With a ranking of #18, Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 453 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Dunwoody College of Technology Report

#19

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
6,224 Total Awards

Washington University in St Louis ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 6,224 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#20

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
14,847 Total Awards

Capella University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Capella University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 14,847 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Capella University

3,143 Total Awards

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, the fairly large public school handed out 3,143 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#22

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri
1,079 Total Awards

With a ranking of #22, Rockhurst University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 1,079 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Rockhurst University

#23

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
1,399 Total Awards

St Catherine University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. St Catherine University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 1,399 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on St Catherine University

356 Total Awards

Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #24 on the list. This small public school is located in Sheldon, Iowa, and it awarded 356 degrees in 2021-2022.

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662 Total Awards

Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 662 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Alexandria Technical & Community College

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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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