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Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

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2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

15 Schools Ranked
$6,714 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

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 Wisconsin ranking. This report analyzed 15 schools in Wisconsin to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for trade school students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, Wisconsin
1,571 Total Awards
$5,512 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Northcentral Technical College the best value school in Wisconsin for trade school students working on their basic certificate. North Central Technical College is located in Wausau, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,571 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Central Technical College are $5,512 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at North Central Technical College. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Northcentral Technical College Report

#2

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
1,263 Total Awards
$6,812 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Madison Area Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Wisconsin. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 1,263 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Madison College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,812 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at Madison College, 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 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Madison College also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin list, coming in at #1.

Read full report on Madison Area Technical College

#3

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
931 Total Awards
$6,793 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Park Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school situated in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It awarded 931 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Moraine Park Technical College are $6,793 a year.

Moraine Park Technical 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 42% 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, Moraine Park Technical College is ranked #3 for overall quality in Wisconsin.

Read More…

#4

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
1,945 Total Awards
$6,977 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s value ranking, Fox Valley Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. FVTC is a fairly large public school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,945 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,977 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at FVTC. In 2020-2021 about 31% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

FVTC also took the #2 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin rankings.

Full Fox Valley Technical College Report

#5

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
1,280 Total Awards
$6,793 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Chippewa Valley Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. CVTC is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,280 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CVTC are $6,793 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CVTC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

CVTC also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin list, coming in at #4.

Read full report on Chippewa Valley Technical College

#6

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, Wisconsin
487 Total Awards
$6,793 Average Tuition & Fees

Blackhawk Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list. BTC is a small public school situated in Janesville, Wisconsin. It awarded 487 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

BTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,793 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at BTC. In 2020-2021 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Blackhawk Technical College

#7

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Shell Lake, Wisconsin
947 Total Awards
$6,624 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. WITC is a public institution located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 947 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WITC are $6,624 a year.

One thing to take note of is that WITC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 73% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

WITC also took the #5 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Wisconsin rankings.

Read More…

1,319 Total Awards
$6,965 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 1,319 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

NWTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,965 in tuition and fees each year.

NWTC 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, 41% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#9

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
1,757 Total Awards
$6,917 Average Tuition & Fees

Gateway Technical College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,757 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Gateway Technical College are $6,917 per year.

Gateway Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 36% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin
978 Total Awards
$6,722 Average Tuition & Fees

Waukesha County Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. WCTC is located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 978 basic certificates to qualified students.

WCTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,722 in tuition and fees each year.

WCTC 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 22% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#11

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin
483 Total Awards
$6,788 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Technical 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 #11 on the list. Western Technical College is a small public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 483 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Technical College are $6,788 per year.

Western Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Western Technical College Report

#12

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Fennimore, Wisconsin
244 Total Awards
$6,731 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Southwest Tech is located in Fennimore, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 244 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,731 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Southwest Tech does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 35% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#13

Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, Wisconsin
388 Total Awards
$6,326 Average Tuition & Fees

Lakeshore Technical 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 #13 on the list. This small public school is located in Cleveland, Wisconsin, and it awarded 388 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LTC are $6,326 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Lakeshore Technical College

#14

Mid-State Technical College

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
435 Total Awards
$6,850 Average Tuition & Fees

Mid-State Technical 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 #14 on the list. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 435 students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Mid-State are $6,850 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Mid-State. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Mid-State Technical College Report

#15

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
905 Total Awards
$7,018 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #15, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. MATC is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 905 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

MATC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,018 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MATC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

View Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 15 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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