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2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 372 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which basic certificate programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ivy Tech Community College the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 10,757 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $4,637 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Ivy Tech Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,927. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Online courses are available at Ivy Tech Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fox Valley Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 1,945 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FVTC is $4,826. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,977. Of those students who received their degree, 42% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since FVTC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 31% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbus State Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 2,036 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Columbus State 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 fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent basic certificate programs at College of Lake County helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . College of Lake County is a fairly large public school situated in Grayslake, Illinois. It awarded 1,378 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,842 in tuition and fees if they attend College of Lake County full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,118. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at College of Lake County. During the 2020-2021 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 372 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Sinclair Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, the fairly large public school awarded 7,572 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Ohio pay an average of $4,569 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Sinclair Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,316. Of those students who received their degree, 29% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Sinclair Community College. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #6, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools 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.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at North Central Technical College is $3,791. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,512. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since North Central Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Gateway Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,757 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,766 in tuition and fees if they attend Gateway Technical College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,917. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Gateway Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,263 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Madison College is $4,607. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,812. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Madison College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 67% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. NWTC is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,319 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NWTC is $4,814. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,965. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NWTC. 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.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 978 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Wisconsin who attend WCTC full time pay an average of $4,571 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,722. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
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 fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. CVTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,280 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,642 in tuition and fees if they attend CVTC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,793. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CVTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
William Rainey Harper College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Palatine, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 1,494 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend Harper College full time pay an average of $9,942 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,754. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Harper College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #13 on the list. Moraine Valley Community College is a fairly large public school located in Palos Hills, Illinois that handed out 2,781 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,310 in tuition and fees if they attend MVCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,630. Around 37% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MVCC. In 2020-2021 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
With a ranking of #15, Moraine Park Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the small public school awarded 931 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,641 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Moraine Park Technical College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,793. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Moraine Park Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #16 on the list. 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.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MATC is $4,867. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,018. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
MATC 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, 60% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #17, Southwestern Illinois College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Belleville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,146 students in 2021-2022.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at SWIC, 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 45% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. WITC is located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 947 basic certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at WITC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Stark State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #19 on the list. Stark State College is a fairly large public school situated in North Canton, Ohio. It awarded 737 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,548 in tuition and fees if they attend Stark State College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,644. Of those students who received their degree, 37% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Stark State College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 656 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at LLCC is $6,840. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,068. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at LLCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 695 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Malcolm X College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Read full report on City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
Northwestern Technological Institute came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Southfield, Michigan, the very small private for-profit school awarded 577 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 3% were women.
With a ranking of #23, Apollo Career Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Lima, Ohio, the very small public school awarded 494 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
With a ranking of #24, Douglas J Aveda Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Douglas J Aveda Institute is located in East Lansing, Michigan and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 481 basic certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 98% were women.
With a ranking of #25, Butler Tech - D Russel Lee Career Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Butler Tech - D Russel Lee Career Center is a very small public school located in Monroe, Ohio that handed out 511 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Trade School Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 52 | Kankakee Community College | Kankakee, IL |
| 53 | Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon, IL |
| 54 | Triton College | River Grove, IL |
| 54 | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH |
| 56 | The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | Milwaukee, WI |
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | G Skin & Beauty Institute | Oakbrook, IL |
| 58 | Illinois Central College | East Peoria, IL |
| 59 | Edison State Community College | Piqua, OH |
| 59 | Highland Community College | Freeport, IL |
| 61 | Lake Land College | Mattoon, IL |
| 62 | Hamrick School | Medina, OH |
| 63 | Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy | Chicago, IL |
| 64 | Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training | Marietta, OH |
| 65 | John A Logan College | Carterville, IL |
| 66 | Michigan College of Beauty-Troy | Troy, MI |
| 67 | City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL |
| 68 | Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | Newark, OH |
| 69 | Trenz Beauty Academy | Calumet City, IL |
| 69 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 71 | Owens Community College | Perrysburg, OH |
| 71 | Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance | Alliance, OH |
| 73 | Spoon River College | Canton, IL |
| 74 | Shawnee Community College | Ullin, IL |
| 75 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College | Chicago, IL |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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