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2023 Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one 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.
The Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 910 schools in the United States to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Highlands College of Montana Tech to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the United States. This very small public school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 73 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Montana pay an average of $3,667 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Highlands College of Montana Tech. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,642. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Highlands College of Montana Tech accumulate an average of $4,025 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Highlands College of Montana Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 29% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 910 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Dakota State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Madison, South Dakota, the small public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from South Dakota pay an average of $9,633 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Dakota State. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,735.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Dakota State does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Asnuntuck Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in the United States. Asnuntuck Community College is a small public school located in Enfield, Connecticut that handed out 117 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,772 in tuition and fees if they attend ACC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,172. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $5,911 in student loans.
ACC 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, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Northwestern University is a great place for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 91 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Northwestern, expect to pay an average of $63,468 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Northwestern accumulate an average of $32,689 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Northwestern does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 0% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of North Dakota is a great place for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 31 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,951 in tuition and fees if they attend UND full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,570. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from UND accumulate an average of $10,922 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UND does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
White Mountains Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. White Mountains Community College is located in Berlin, New Hampshire and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 49 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Students from New Hampshire who attend White Mountains Community College full time pay an average of $7,050 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,300.
White Mountains Community 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, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Dunwoody College of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Dunwoody College of Technology, expect to pay an average of $24,611 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Dunwoody College of Technology accumulate an average of $7,518 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Dunwoody College of Technology does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. Indiana, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 167 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Pennsylvania who attend IUP full time pay an average of $11,320 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,927.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at IUP. In fact, around 51% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Full Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Report
With a ranking of #9, Great Bay Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Portsmouth, New Hampshire is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Great Bay Community College is $7,200. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,450.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Great Bay Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #10, Mt. San Antonio College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Mt. San Antonio College is a large public school located in Walnut, California that handed out 268 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,352 in tuition and fees if they attend Mt. SAC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,096.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Mt. SAC. In fact, around 10% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. Lincoln Tech - Allentown is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 228 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Lincoln Tech - Allentown accumulate an average of $12,737 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
With a ranking of #12, NHTI-Concord’s Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. This small public school is located in Concord, New Hampshire, and it awarded 53 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from New Hampshire who attend NHTI full time pay an average of $7,200 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,450. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from NHTI accumulate an average of $12,751 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NHTI. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #13, Rutgers University - New Brunswick did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Rutgers University - New Brunswick is a large public school located in New Brunswick, New Jersey that handed out 2 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $16,263 in tuition and fees if they attend Rutgers New Brunswick full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $33,963.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Rutgers New Brunswick. In 2020-2021 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bay State College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. Bay State College is located in Boston, Massachusetts and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Bay State College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $29,500. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Bay State College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school handed out 28 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at IUPUI is $10,144. Out-of-state students pay an average of $32,582. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,286 in student loans.
Online courses are available at IUPUI, 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 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in Fennimore, Wisconsin, the small public school awarded 204 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Southwest Tech is $4,571. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,731. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,120 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Southwest Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 35% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
DeVry University - Illinois came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school handed out 2,903 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at DeVry University - Illinois is $15,032. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from DeVry University - Illinois accumulate an average of $16,207 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since DeVry University - Illinois does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Washburn University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. This medium-sized public school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 75 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,126 in tuition and fees if they attend Washburn University full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $20,130. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,206 in student loans.
Washburn University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 500 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend CVTC full time pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,793. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from CVTC accumulate an average of $10,592 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CVTC. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Shore Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #20 on the list. North Shore Community College is a small public school situated in Danvers, Massachusetts. It awarded 50 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Massachusetts who attend North Shore Community College full time pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,920. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,160 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Shore Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #21, Thomas Jefferson University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 12 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Thomas Jefferson University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $44,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Thomas Jefferson University. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Cuesta College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 1,268 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Cuesta College full time pay an average of $1,340 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,348.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cuesta College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, the large public school awarded 468 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $12,885 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that El Centro College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Madison Area Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 633 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,607 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Madison College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,812. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,509 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Madison College. In fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #25, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 11,706 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Ivy Tech Community College is $4,637. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,927. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of $9,816 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Ivy Tech Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 33% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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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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