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Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland

2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

13 Schools Ranked
$11,441 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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 Maryland ranking. This report analyzed 13 schools in Maryland 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.

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.

Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore, Maryland
67 Total Awards
$7,394 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Baltimore City Community College to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Maryland. Baltimore City Community College is a small public school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 67 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Baltimore City Community College are $7,394 a year.

One thing to take note of is that Baltimore City Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.

Baltimore City Community College also took the #1 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland rankings.

Read full report on Baltimore City Community College

#2

Chesapeake College

Wye Mills, Maryland
6 Total Awards
$8,504 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Chesapeake College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland list. This small public school is located in Wye Mills, Maryland, and it awarded 6 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chesapeake College are $8,504 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Chesapeake College. In 2020-2021 about 76% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#3

Hagerstown Community College

Hagerstown, Maryland
114 Total Awards
$8,190 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Hagerstown Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland list. Located in Hagerstown, Maryland, the small public school handed out 114 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

HCC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,190 in tuition and fees each year.

HCC 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 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Hagerstown Community College Report

#4

College of Southern Maryland

La Plata, Maryland
144 Total Awards
$9,240 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Southern Maryland. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland list. CSM is located in La Plata, Maryland and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 144 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CSM are $9,240 a year.

CSM does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

CSM not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland list.

Read full report on College of Southern Maryland

#5

Anne Arundel Community College

Arnold, Maryland
690 Total Awards
$13,760 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Anne Arundel Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland list. Anne Arundel Community College is a fairly large public school located in Arnold, Maryland that handed out 690 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

AACC undergraduate students pay an average of $13,760 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since AACC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

AACC also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland list, coming in at #2.

Full Anne Arundel Community College Report

525 Total Awards
$10,062 Average Tuition & Fees

Community College of Baltimore County came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland ranking. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the fairly large public school awarded 525 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CCBC are $10,062 per year.

CCBC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#7

Howard Community College

Columbia, Maryland
48 Total Awards
$9,459 Average Tuition & Fees

Howard Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Columbia, Maryland, and it awarded 48 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at HCC are $9,459 per year.

One thing to take note of is that HCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#8

Frederick Community College

Frederick, Maryland
101 Total Awards
$9,844 Average Tuition & Fees

Frederick Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Frederick, Maryland, the medium-sized public school awarded 101 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Frederick Community College are $9,844 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Frederick Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Frederick Community College Report

#9

Montgomery College

Rockville, Maryland
171 Total Awards
$14,061 Average Tuition & Fees

Montgomery 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 #9 on the list. Montgomery College is located in Rockville, Maryland and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 171 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Montgomery College are $14,061 per year.

Online courses are available at Montgomery 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 32% took at least some of their classes online.

Montgomery College also took the #3 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland rankings.

Full Montgomery College Report

#10

Cecil College

North East, Maryland
23 Total Awards
$9,510 Average Tuition & Fees

Cecil College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland ranking. Located in North East, Maryland, the small public school handed out 23 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Cecil College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,510 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Cecil College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Cecil College

#11

Wor-Wic Community College

Salisbury, Maryland
127 Total Awards
$8,280 Average Tuition & Fees

Wor-Wic Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland ranking. Wor-Wic Community College is a small public school located in Salisbury, Maryland that handed out 127 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wor-Wic Community College are $8,280 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Wor-Wic Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#12

Allegany College of Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland
17 Total Awards
$11,060 Average Tuition & Fees

Allegany College of Maryland 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. Cumberland, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 17 students in 2021-2022.

Allegany College of Maryland undergraduate students pay an average of $11,060 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that Allegany College of Maryland does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 50% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

114 Total Awards
$29,370 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Maryland - Baltimore County ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Maryland list. UMBC is a public institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 114 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UMBC are $29,370 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at UMBC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

UMBC also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Maryland list, coming in at #5.

Read full report on University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

View Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 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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