Find Trade Colleges

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in South Dakota

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in South Dakota

9 Schools Ranked
$8,159 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. This report analyzed 9 schools in South Dakota 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

Lake Area Technical Institute

Watertown, South Dakota
62 Total Awards
$6,718 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Lake Area Technical Institute the most popular school in South Dakota for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 62 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $6,718 to cover tuition and fees at LATI. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LATI. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Lake Area Technical Institute

#1

Western Dakota Technical Institute

Rapid City, South Dakota
38 Total Awards
$8,333 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Western Dakota Technical Institute to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in South Dakota. Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 38 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

If you want to attend Western Dakota Tech, expect to pay an average of $8,333 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.

Online courses are available at Western Dakota Tech, 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 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Western Dakota Technical Institute Report

#3

Stewart School

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
35 Total Awards

The excellent basic certificate programs at Stewart School helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in South Dakota. Stewart School is a very small private for-profit school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that handed out 35 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Stewart School Report

#4

Headlines Academy Inc

Rapid City, South Dakota
53 Total Awards

Out of the 9 schools in South Dakota that were part of this year’s ranking, Headlines Academy Inc landed the # 4 spot on the list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 53 students in 2021-2022.

Around 98% of those degree recipients were women.

Read full report on Headlines Academy Inc

#5

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
17 Total Awards
$7,650 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Southeast Technical College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Southeast Tech is a small public school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 17 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,650 to cover tuition and fees at Southeast Tech. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Southeast Tech. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Southeast Technical College

#6

Black Hills Beauty College

Rapid City, South Dakota
24 Total Awards

Black Hills Beauty College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, the very small private for-profit school handed out 24 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Around 92% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#7

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
29 Total Awards
$9,432 Average Tuition & Fees

University of South Dakota came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, the medium-sized public school awarded 29 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at USD is $9,432. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,942. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.

Online courses are available at USD, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full University of South Dakota Report

#7

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, South Dakota
18 Total Awards
$7,524 Average Tuition & Fees

Mitchell Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in South Dakota list. Mitchell Tech is a small public school situated in Mitchell, South Dakota. It awarded 18 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

If you want to attend Mitchell Tech, expect to pay an average of $7,524 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Mitchell Tech. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Mitchell Technical College Report

#9

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
48 Total Awards
$9,299 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, South Dakota State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 48 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from South Dakota pay an average of $9,299 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend South Dakota State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,809. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.

South Dakota 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 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on South Dakota State University

Most Popular Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

View Most Popular Trade School Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 9 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.

Featured Schools

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.