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2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan ranking. Our analysis looked at 24 schools in Michigan to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Wayne County Community College District the best value school in Michigan for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This fairly large public school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 162 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCCCD are $3,998 per year.
WCCCD 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 27% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Washtenaw Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 709 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Washtenaw Community College are $6,096 per year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Washtenaw Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Washtenaw Community College is ranked #5 for overall quality in Michigan.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Oakland Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school located in Auburn Hills, Michigan that handed out 235 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Oakland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,400 in tuition and fees each year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Oakland Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Oakland Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Schoolcraft College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school situated in Livonia, Michigan. It awarded 155 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Schoolcraft College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,652 in tuition and fees each year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Schoolcraft College. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Lansing Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Michigan. Lansing Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Lansing, Michigan that handed out 500 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LCC are $10,760 per year.
LCC 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 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, LCC is ranked #3 for overall quality in Michigan.
Delta College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Delta College is a medium-sized public school located in University Center, Michigan that handed out 59 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delta College are $7,250 per year.
One thing to take note of is that Delta College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Kellogg Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Battle Creek, Michigan, the small public school awarded 71 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kellogg Community College are $9,038 per year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Kellogg Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Henry Ford College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan list. This fairly large public school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 90 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Henry Ford College are $7,348 per year.
Online courses are available at Henry Ford College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Gogebic Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan ranking. Gogebic Community College is a very small public school situated in Ironwood, Michigan. It awarded 9 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Gogebic Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,108 in tuition and fees each year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Gogebic Community College. In fact, around 61% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 40 students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kalamazoo Valley Community College are $8,596 per year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Grand Valley State University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 191 basic certificates to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GVSU are $20,198 per year.
GVSU 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, 46% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
GVSU did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan list.
Monroe County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. This small public school is located in Monroe, Michigan, and it awarded 37 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Monroe County Community College are $7,940 per year.
Online courses are available at Monroe County Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Macomb Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Warren, Michigan, and it awarded 41 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Macomb Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,830 in tuition and fees each year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Macomb Community College. In 2020-2021 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Central Michigan College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Petoskey, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 13 students in 2021-2022.
NCMC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,810 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that NCMC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #15, Ferris State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 271 students in 2021-2022.
Ferris undergraduate students pay an average of $13,608 in tuition and fees each year.
Online courses are available at Ferris, 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, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Ferris also took the #2 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Michigan rankings.
With a ranking of #16, Lake Michigan College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Benton Harbor, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 14 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LMC are $7,148 a year.
LMC is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Mid Michigan College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan ranking. Harrison, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 37 students in 2021-2022.
Mid Michigan College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,908 in tuition and fees each year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Mid Michigan College. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Grand Rapids Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 39 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Grand Rapids Community College are $11,679 a year.
Grand Rapids 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. In 2020-2021 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Baker College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan ranking. Located in Owosso, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Baker College are $12,710 per year.
Baker College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Michigan ranking. NMC is a public institution located in Traverse City, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NMC are $12,048 a year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NMC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #21, Northern Michigan University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Marquette, Michigan, the medium-sized public school handed out 27 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northern Michigan University are $18,570 per year.
One thing to take note of is that Northern Michigan University does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 39% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #22, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 42 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UM Dearborn are $29,584 a year.
UM Dearborn does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, Alpena Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Alpena Community College is a small public school located in Alpena, Michigan that handed out 13 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Alpena Community College are $7,995 a year.
Online courses are available at Alpena Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 45% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #24, Madonna University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Livonia, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 98 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Madonna are $26,100 a year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Madonna. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 24 schools only.
References
- 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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