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Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas

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2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

17 Schools Ranked
$6,289 Avg Tuition & Fees*

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas ranking. This report analyzed 17 schools in Arkansas 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. 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.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

537 Total Awards
$4,416 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Arkansas State University - Newport the best value school in Arkansas for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Arkansas State University - Newport is a small public school located in Newport, Arkansas that handed out 537 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASUN are $4,416 per year.

One thing to take note of is that ASUN does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

ASUN also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arkansas list, coming in at #1.

Read full report on Arkansas State University - Newport

331 Total Awards
$5,780 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Arkansas State University Three Rivers. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas list. Malvern, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 331 students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASU Three Rivers are $5,780 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at ASU Three Rivers. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 16% took at least some of their classes online.

ASU Three Rivers also took the #3 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arkansas rankings.

Read More…

303 Total Awards
$3,750 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Batesville, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 303 students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UACCB are $3,750 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UACCB does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#4

South Arkansas Community College

El Dorado, Arkansas
284 Total Awards
$5,124 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at South Arkansas Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Arkansas. Located in El Dorado, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 284 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

SouthArk undergraduate students pay an average of $5,124 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at SouthArk, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 59% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full South Arkansas Community College Report

#5

NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Bentonville, Arkansas
356 Total Awards
$4,906 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 17 schools in Arkansas that were part of this year’s value ranking, NorthWest Arkansas Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. NWACC is located in Bentonville, Arkansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 356 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWACC are $4,906 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at NWACC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.

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

Full NorthWest Arkansas Community College Report

#6

Arkansas Northeastern College

Blytheville, Arkansas
193 Total Awards
$4,222 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas Northeastern College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas ranking. Arkansas Northeastern College is located in Blytheville, Arkansas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 193 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Arkansas Northeastern College are $4,222 per year.

Online courses are available at Arkansas Northeastern College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Arkansas Northeastern College

#7

Arkansas State University - Mountain Home

Mountain Home, Arkansas
308 Total Awards
$4,632 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas State University - Mountain Home 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. ASUMH is located in Mountain Home, Arkansas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 308 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASUMH are $4,632 a year.

Online courses are available at ASUMH, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Arkansas State University - Mountain Home

153 Total Awards
$4,728 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas State University - Beebe landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. ASU-Beebe is a small public school situated in Beebe, Arkansas. It awarded 153 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASU-Beebe are $4,728 a year.

Online courses are available at ASU-Beebe, 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 52% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Arkansas State University - Beebe

102 Total Awards
$3,960 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, University of Arkansas Rich Mountain did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. University of Arkansas Rich Mountain is a very small public school located in Mena, Arkansas that handed out 102 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UA Rich Mountain are $3,960 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UA Rich Mountain. In 2020-2021 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on University of Arkansas Rich Mountain

#10

Black River Technical College

Pocahontas, Arkansas
1,243 Total Awards
$6,888 Average Tuition & Fees

Black River Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas list. Black River Technical College is a public institution located in Pocahontas, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,243 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Black River Technical College are $6,888 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Black River Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

191 Total Awards
$5,060 Average Tuition & Fees

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas list. This small public school is located in Helena, Arkansas, and it awarded 191 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Phillips County Community College are $5,060 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Phillips County Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 29% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

501 Total Awards
$7,050 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Arkansas list. Located in North Little Rock, Arkansas, the small public school awarded 501 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UA Pulaski Tech are $7,050 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UA Pulaski Tech. During the 2020-2021 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, UA Pulaski Tech is ranked #5 for overall quality in Arkansas.

Read More…

#13

National Park College

Hot Springs, Arkansas
291 Total Awards
$6,880 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, National Park College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. National Park College is a small public school situated in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It awarded 291 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at National Park College are $6,880 a year.

One thing to take note of is that National Park College does offer online classes in some areas. 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 full report on National Park College

#14

North Arkansas College

Harrison, Arkansas
224 Total Awards
$5,136 Average Tuition & Fees

North Arkansas College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Northark is located in Harrison, Arkansas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 224 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northark are $5,136 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Northark. In fact, around 56% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#15

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, Arkansas
653 Total Awards
$13,891 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas Tech University 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 #15 on the list. Located in Russellville, Arkansas, the medium-sized public school awarded 653 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

ATU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,891 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ATU does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

ATU also took the #4 spot in our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Arkansas rankings.

Read full report on Arkansas Tech University

449 Total Awards
$6,210 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Arkansas University Tech 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 #16 on the list. SAU Tech is located in Camden, Arkansas and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 449 basic certificates to qualified students.

SAU Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SAU Tech. In 2020-2021 about 41% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#17

University of Arkansas at Monticello

Monticello, Arkansas
291 Total Awards
$14,281 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Arkansas at Monticello 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 #17 on the list. Located in Monticello, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 291 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

UAM undergraduate students pay an average of $14,281 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UAM does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of Arkansas at Monticello Report

View Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 17 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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