2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
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 Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 23 schools in Virginia 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.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Danville Community College the best value school in Virginia for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This small public school is located in Danville, Virginia, and it awarded 325 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Danville Community College are $10,728 a year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Danville Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Danville Community College is ranked #1 for overall quality in Virginia.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Virginia. PVCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 212 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
PVCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,793 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that PVCC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, PVCC is ranked #2 for overall quality in Virginia.
Out of the 23 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s value ranking, Wytheville Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Wytheville, Virginia, the small public school handed out 123 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WCC are $10,728 a year.
WCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
WCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list.
Out of the 23 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s value ranking, Mountain Empire Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. MECC is a public institution located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 499 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
MECC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,728 in tuition and fees each year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MECC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, MECC is ranked #5 for overall quality in Virginia.
Out of the 23 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s value ranking, Southside Virginia Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Alberta, Virginia, the small public school awarded 301 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southside Virginia Community College are $10,698 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Southside Virginia Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
Thomas Nelson Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Hampton, Virginia, and it awarded 205 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at TNCC are $10,809 per year.
Online courses are available at TNCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Reynolds Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the medium-sized public school awarded 374 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Reynolds Community College are $11,001 a year.
Reynolds Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 65% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #8, Lord Fairfax Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Lord Fairfax Community College is a public institution located in Middletown, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 281 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Lord Fairfax Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,742 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that Lord Fairfax Community College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Tidewater Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,133 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Tidewater Community College are $11,564 a year.
Online courses are available at Tidewater Community 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 82% took at least some of their classes online.
Central Virginia Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. Central Virginia Community College is a small public school situated in Lynchburg, Virginia. It awarded 366 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Virginia Community College are $10,856 per year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Central Virginia Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #11, Virginia Highlands Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. VHCC is a small public school situated in Abingdon, Virginia. It awarded 187 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
VHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,728 in tuition and fees each year.
VHCC 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 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Blue Ridge 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. Located in Weyers Cave, Virginia, the small public school handed out 551 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
BRCC undergraduate students pay an average of $11,367 in tuition and fees each year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BRCC. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia ranking. Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution located in Annandale, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 892 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Northern Virginia Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,648 in tuition and fees each year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Northern Virginia Community College. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, Southwest Virginia Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Southwest Virginia is a public institution located in Cedar Bluff, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 219 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southwest Virginia are $10,736 a year.
One thing to take note of is that Southwest Virginia does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Patrick Henry Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia ranking. Patrick Henry is a public institution located in Martinsville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 81 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Patrick Henry are $10,723 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Patrick Henry. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
New River Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia ranking. NRCC is a small public school situated in Dublin, Virginia. It awarded 335 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
NRCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,699 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that NRCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 59% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. Located in Roanoke, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 484 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Virginia Western Community College are $11,106 per year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Virginia Western Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
John Tyler Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Chester, Virginia, and it awarded 283 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
John Tyler Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,803 in tuition and fees each year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at John Tyler Community College. In fact, around 56% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Paul D Camp 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 #19 on the list. This small public school is located in Franklin, Virginia, and it awarded 64 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Paul D Camp Community College are $10,733 per year.
Paul D Camp 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 56% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Germanna Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. This medium-sized public school is located in Locust Grove, Virginia, and it awarded 346 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Germanna Community College are $10,916 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Germanna Community College. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Rappahannock Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. RCC is a public institution located in Glenns, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 398 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
RCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,823 in tuition and fees each year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at RCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
ECPI University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private for-profit school awarded 38 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
ECPI University undergraduate students pay an average of $18,484 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that ECPI University does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 47% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
ECPI University did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list.
Liberty University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Virginia list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 364 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Liberty University are $16,203 per year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Liberty University. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 23 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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