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Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

333 Schools Ranked
$3,545 Avg Tuition & Fees*

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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.

The Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 333 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones were the most popular basic certificate programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular schools below:

#1

Tulsa Technology Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma
2,002 Total Awards

Our analysis found Tulsa Technology Center to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Southwest Region . Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the small public school awarded 2,002 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.

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#2

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
1,579 Total Awards

Out of the 333 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lone Star College System landed the # 2 spot on the list. North Harris Montgomery is located in The Woodlands, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,579 basic certificates to qualified students.

Around 39% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at North Harris Montgomery. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.

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4,818 Total Awards

The excellent basic certificate programs at University of Phoenix - Arizona helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Southwest Region . Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 4,818 students in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.

One thing to take note of is that UOPX - Arizona does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Report

1,055 Total Awards

Out of the 333 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Tulsa Welding School-Houston landed the # 4 spot on the list. This small private for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 1,055 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 9% of those degree recipients were women.

Read full report on Tulsa Welding School-Houston

#5

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas
2,819 Total Awards

Out of the 333 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, El Centro College landed the # 5 spot on the list. El Centro College is a large public school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 2,819 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.

One thing to take note of is that El Centro College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full El Centro College Report

#6

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
2,764 Total Awards
$1,858 Average Tuition & Fees

Central New Mexico 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 #6 on the list. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,764 basic certificates to qualified students.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,858 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CNM. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,978. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.

Online courses are available at CNM, 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.

Full Central New Mexico Community College Report

#7

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
872 Total Awards
$2,298 Average Tuition & Fees

Pima 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 #7 on the list. Pima County Community College District is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 872 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $2,298 in tuition and fees if they attend Pima County Community College District full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,614. Around 38% of those degree recipients were women.

One thing to take note of is that Pima County Community College District 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.

Full Pima Community College Report

#8

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
2,298 Total Awards
$3,882 Average Tuition & Fees

Lee College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Lee College is a public institution located in Baytown, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,298 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $3,882 in tuition and fees if they attend Lee College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,302. Around 16% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Lee College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 40% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#9

St Philip's College

San Antonio, Texas
803 Total Awards
$6,742 Average Tuition & Fees

St Philip’s College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. St Philip’s College is a fairly large public school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 803 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at St Philip’s College is $6,742. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,272. Around 24% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since St Philip’s College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on St Philip’s College

#10

Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
511 Total Awards

Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. TWS is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 511 basic certificates to qualified students.

Around 11% of those degree recipients were women.

TWS 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, 6% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa

#11

GateWay Community College

Phoenix, Arizona
647 Total Awards

GateWay 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 #11 on the list. GateWay Community College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 647 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.

Read More…

#12

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
967 Total Awards
$4,530 Average Tuition & Fees

South Texas College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in McAllen, Texas, the large public school handed out 967 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.

One thing to take note of is that South Texas College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 58% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on South Texas College

1,100 Total Awards
$3,514 Average Tuition & Fees

Collin County Community College District came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Collin County Community College District is a public institution located in McKinney, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,100 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Collin County Community College District is $3,514. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,614. Around 37% of those degree recipients were women.

Collin County Community College District does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 40% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Collin County Community College District

#14

Western Technical College

El Paso, Texas
379 Total Awards

With a ranking of #14, Western Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Western Technical College is located in El Paso, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 379 basic certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 7% were women.

Full Western Technical College Report

#15

Yavapai College

Prescott, Arizona
743 Total Awards

Yavapai 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 #15 on the list. Prescott, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 743 students in 2021-2022.

Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Yavapai College. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Yavapai College Report

#16

The Refrigeration School

Phoenix, Arizona
406 Total Awards

The Refrigeration School ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the small private for-profit school handed out 406 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 9% were women.

RSI does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 5% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#17

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, Arizona
469 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Studio Academy of Beauty did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Studio Academy of Beauty is a very small private for-profit school located in Chandler, Arizona that handed out 469 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 99% were women.

Read full report on Studio Academy of Beauty

#17

Clovis Community College

Clovis, New Mexico
365 Total Awards
$1,736 Average Tuition & Fees

Clovis Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Clovis, New Mexico, the small public school handed out 365 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,736 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Clovis Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $3,224. Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.

Clovis 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Clovis Community College

2,130 Total Awards
$8,580 Average Tuition & Fees

Austin Community College District landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. This large public school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 2,130 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $8,580 in tuition and fees if they attend Austin Community College District full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,590. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.

Austin Community College District 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, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Austin Community College District

#20

GateWay Community College

Phoenix, Arizona
928 Total Awards
$2,070 Average Tuition & Fees

GateWay Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This small public school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 928 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Arizona pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend GateWay Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.

GateWay 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 fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on GateWay Community College

#21

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
617 Total Awards
$2,070 Average Tuition & Fees

Glendale Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, Arizona and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 617 basic certificates to qualified students.

Students from Arizona who attend Glendale Community College full time pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,854. Of those students who received their degree, 43% were women.

One thing to take note of is that Glendale Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Glendale Community College

#22

San Juan College

Farmington, New Mexico
223 Total Awards
$1,714 Average Tuition & Fees

San Juan College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. SJC is located in Farmington, New Mexico and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 223 basic certificates to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $1,714 in tuition and fees if they attend SJC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,882. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.

Online courses are available at SJC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#23

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas
958 Total Awards

Tarrant County College District ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Tarrant County College is located in Fort Worth, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 958 basic certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.

Tarrant County 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 44% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

285 Total Awards

Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie is located in Grand Prairie, Texas and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 285 basic certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 62% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

215 Total Awards

Concorde Career College - San Antonio 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 #25 on the list. Concorde Career College - San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 215 basic certificates to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Concorde Career College - San Antonio. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Concorde Career College - San Antonio Report

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#27

Brookline College - Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona
#28

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas
#30

Mesalands Community College

Tucumcari, New Mexico
#31

Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester

McAlester, Oklahoma
#34

Central Technology Center

Drumright, Oklahoma
#34

College of the Mainland

Texas City, Texas
#36

RGV Careers

Pharr, Texas
#37

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
#37

Mohave Community College

Kingman, Arizona
#37

San Jacinto Community College

Pasadena, Texas
#40

Midland College

Midland, Texas
#41

Laredo College

Laredo, Texas
#42

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
#44

Regional Center for Border Health

Somerton, Arizona
#46

Northland Pioneer College

Holbrook, Arizona
#47

HDS Truck Driving Institute

Tucson, Arizona
#49

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas
#50

Hill College

Hillsboro, Texas

View Most Popular Trade School Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:

Rank School Location
51 Brookline College - Tempe Tempe, AZ
51 CyberTex Institute of Technology Austin, TX
53 Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TX
54 Penrose Academy Scottsdale, AZ
54 Avenue Five Institute Austin, TX
56 South Texas Training Center San Benito, TX
57 Central Oklahoma College Oklahoma City, OK
58 Concorde Career College - Dallas Dallas, TX
59 Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZ
59 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
61 Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OK
62 Pima Medical Institute - Tucson Tucson, AZ
63 Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
64 Ocean Corporation Houston, TX
64 M T Training Center Grand Prairie, TX
66 Southern Careers Institute - Pharr Pharr, TX
67 Ann Webb Skin Institute Austin, TX

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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