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Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri

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2023 Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

15 Schools Ranked
$9,573 Avg Tuition & Fees*

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.

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 Missouri ranking. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in Missouri 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.

Top Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

State Fair Community College

Sedalia, Missouri
43 Total Awards
$6,648 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named State Fair Community College the best value school in Missouri for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Sedalia, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 43 students in 2021-2022.

State Fair Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,648 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at State Fair Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

364 Total Awards
$9,600 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school handed out 364 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,600 in tuition and fees each year.

MCC 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 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

MCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Missouri list.

Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City

#3

Jefferson College

Hillsboro, Missouri
46 Total Awards
$7,980 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Jefferson College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri list. JeffCo is located in Hillsboro, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 46 basic certificates to qualified students.

JeffCo undergraduate students pay an average of $7,980 in tuition and fees each year.

JeffCo 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.

Read full report on Jefferson College

113 Total Awards
$13,320 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 15 schools in Missouri that were part of this year’s value ranking, State Technical College of Missouri landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Linn, Missouri, the small public school awarded 113 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at STC are $13,320 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since STC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 28% 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, STC is ranked #5 for overall quality in Missouri.

Full State Technical College of Missouri Report

#5

Crowder College

Neosho, Missouri
374 Total Awards
$5,616 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Crowder College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Missouri. Crowder College is a small public school situated in Neosho, Missouri. It awarded 374 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Crowder College are $5,616 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Crowder College. In 2020-2021 about 38% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Crowder College Report

#6

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
317 Total Awards
$17,450 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, University of Central Missouri did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 317 students in 2021-2022.

UCM undergraduate students pay an average of $17,450 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at UCM, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

UCM did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Missouri list.

Full University of Central Missouri Report

35 Total Awards
$9,180 Average Tuition & Fees

Missouri State University - West Plains landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate trade school programs. Missouri State West Plains is a small public school situated in West Plains, Missouri. It awarded 35 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Missouri State West Plains are $9,180 per year.

Missouri State West Plains 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 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Missouri State University - West Plains Report

79 Total Awards
$16,052 Average Tuition & Fees

Missouri Southern State 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 #8 on the list. Joplin, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 79 students in 2021-2022.

Missouri Southern undergraduate students pay an average of $16,052 in tuition and fees each year.

Online courses are available at Missouri Southern, 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 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Missouri Southern State University

#9

Mineral Area College

Park Hills, Missouri
30 Total Awards
$7,210 Average Tuition & Fees

Mineral Area College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri ranking. This small public school is located in Park Hills, Missouri, and it awarded 30 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

MAC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,210 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at MAC. In fact, around 61% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Mineral Area College

#10

Saint Louis Community College

Bridgeton, Missouri
193 Total Awards
$6,990 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Saint Louis Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school located in Bridgeton, Missouri that handed out 193 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saint Louis Community College are $6,990 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Saint Louis Community College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#11

North Central Missouri College

Trenton, Missouri
45 Total Awards
$7,350 Average Tuition & Fees

North Central Missouri College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri ranking. Located in Trenton, Missouri, the small public school awarded 45 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NCMC are $7,350 per year.

NCMC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full North Central Missouri College Report

#12

Ranken Technical College

Saint Louis, Missouri
219 Total Awards
$16,960 Average Tuition & Fees

Ranken 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 #12 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 219 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Ranken Technical College are $16,960 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Ranken Technical College. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Ranken Technical College is ranked #1 for overall quality in Missouri.

Read More…

#13

Three Rivers College

Poplar Bluff, Missouri
112 Total Awards
$6,600 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Three Rivers College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Three Rivers College is a small public school situated in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. It awarded 112 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Three Rivers College are $6,600 per year.

Three Rivers College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Three Rivers College

#14

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
33 Total Awards
$12,140 Average Tuition & Fees

Columbia College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 33 students in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia College Missouri are $12,140 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Columbia College Missouri does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 77% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Columbia College

Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in Missouri list. Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City is a very small private for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 14 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City are $0 per year.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City also made our Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Missouri list, coming in at #2.

Read full report on Pinnacle Career Institute-South Kansas City

Best Value Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States 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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