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2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one 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 Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 212 schools in the Plains States 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.
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Most Popular Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Central Community College the most popular school in the Plains States Region for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Grand Island, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,309 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Nebraska pay an average of $3,300 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Central Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,710. Of those students who received their degree, 36% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Central Community College. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 899 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,715 in tuition and fees if they attend WSU Tech full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,578. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WSU Tech does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 37% took at least some of their classes online.
Full Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,607 basic certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
DMACC 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 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the medium-sized public school handed out 965 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $4,922 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,946. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Western Iowa Tech 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 78% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washburn Institute of Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 546 students in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,640 to cover tuition and fees at Washburn Tech. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Online courses are available at Washburn Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 1% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Hutchinson Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hutchinson Community College is a small public school situated in Hutchinson, Kansas. It awarded 572 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend Hutchinson Community College full time pay an average of $3,600 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,530. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Online courses are available at Hutchinson Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 46% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Johnson County 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. JCCC is a public institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 855 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $2,784 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend JCCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,472. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at JCCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Anoka 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 #8 on the list. Anoka Technical College is a small public school situated in Anoka, Minnesota. It awarded 526 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Anoka Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,075. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Anoka Technical College, 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 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #9, Hennepin Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 730 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Hennepin Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,881. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 30% of those degree recipients were women.
Hennepin Technical 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, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Kansas City, Kansas, the small public school awarded 404 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $3,164 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kansas City Kansas Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,244. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Kansas City Kansas Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 43% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Crowder College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Crowder College is a public institution located in Neosho, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 374 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Crowder College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,616. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 13% of those degree recipients were women.
Crowder 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 38% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Neosho County 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 #12 on the list. Located in Chanute, Kansas, the small public school handed out 333 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Neosho County Community College, expect to pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Online courses are available at Neosho County Community College, 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 39% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. This small public school is located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, and it awarded 277 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,484 in tuition and fees if they attend Minnesota West full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,332. Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
Minnesota West 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 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Saint Paul College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 448 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Saint Paul College, expect to pay an average of $6,318 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Saint Paul College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Barton County Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Barton Community College is a public institution located in Great Bend, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 313 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,840 in tuition and fees if they attend Barton Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,608. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Barton Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 69% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Highland Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Highland, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 256 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Highland Community College is $3,330. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Highland Community College. In 2020-2021 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center 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 #17 on the list. Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 500 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Around 30% of those degree recipients were women.
Full Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Report
With a ranking of #18, Cowley County Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This small public school is located in Arkansas City, Kansas, and it awarded 264 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend Cowley College full time pay an average of $4,200 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,700. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cowley College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Salina Area Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. This very small public school is located in Salina, Kansas, and it awarded 257 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Salina Tech, expect to pay an average of $7,320 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Salina Tech. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 29% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Minneapolis Community and 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 #20 on the list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 450 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,098. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 76% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. MCC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 364 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Around 33% of those degree recipients were women.
MCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Grantham University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Grantham University is a medium-sized public school situated in LIttle Rock, Arkansas. It awarded 300 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Grantham University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $8,280. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
Since Grantham University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Century College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 477 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $6,105 to cover tuition and fees at Century College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
Century 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 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Fort Scott 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 #24 on the list. FSCC is a public institution located in Fort Scott, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 213 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend FSCC, expect to pay an average of $3,600 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at FSCC. 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.
Ranken 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 #25 on the list. Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 219 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $16,960 to cover tuition and fees at Ranken Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Of those students who received their degree, 7% were women.
Ranken Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | North Central Kansas Technical College | Beloit, KS |
| 35 | Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs, IA |
| 36 | Pratt Community College | Pratt, KS |
| 37 | Grabber School of Hair Design | St. Louis, MO |
| 38 | Midwest Technical Institute - Springfield, Missouri | Springfield, MO |
| 39 | Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN |
| 40 | Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 41 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN |
| 42 | Southeastern Community College | West Burlington, IA |
| 43 | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO |
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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