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2023 Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

164 Schools Ranked
$7,931 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Today's teaching students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Teaching Degree Search has created the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 164 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for teaching students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools in the United States

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Santa Fe Community College

Santa Fe, New Mexico
122 Total Awards
$4,995 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Santa Fe Community College the best value school in the United States for teaching students working on their basic certificate. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the small public school awarded 122 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at SFCC are $4,995 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SFCC. In fact, around 90% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

SFCC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list.

Full Santa Fe Community College Report

#2

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington
35 Total Awards
$5,135 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Spokane Falls Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. Spokane, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 35 students in 2020-2021.

Spokane Falls Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,135 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Spokane Falls Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Spokane Falls Community College

#3

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
52 Total Awards
$6,769 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 164 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s value ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 52 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Madison College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,769 in tuition and fees each year.

Madison 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 77% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Madison College also is in the top 10% of our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking.

Read full report on Madison Area Technical College

81 Total Awards
$6,849 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. NWTC is a fairly large public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 81 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NWTC are $6,849 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NWTC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.

NWTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list.

Read More…

#5

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
74 Total Awards
$6,861 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Fox Valley Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. FVTC is a fairly large public school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 74 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year.

Online courses are available at FVTC, 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.

FVTC also claimed a spot on our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

#6

Stanly Community College

Albemarle, North Carolina
111 Total Awards
$9,245 Average Tuition & Fees

Stanly Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Albemarle, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 111 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Stanly Technical College are $9,245 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Stanly Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.

Stanly Technical College also made our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list, coming in at #3.

Read More…

#6

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, Wisconsin
32 Total Awards
$5,415 Average Tuition & Fees

Northcentral Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Wausau, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 32 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Central Technical College are $5,415 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at North Central Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#8

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
37 Total Awards
$6,908 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for teaching students working on their basic certificate. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 37 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $6,908 per year.

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. In 2019-2020 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#9

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin
12 Total Awards
$6,603 Average Tuition & Fees

Waukesha County Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking. WCTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

WCTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,603 in tuition and fees each year.

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 17% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Waukesha County Technical College

#10

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
161 Total Awards
$8,936 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Piedmont Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. This fairly large public school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 161 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Piedmont Community College are $8,936 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Central Piedmont Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Central Piedmont Community College also did well on our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read More…

33 Total Awards
$5,526 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, Southern Crescent Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for teaching students working on their basic certificate. Griffin, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 33 students in 2020-2021.

Southern Crescent Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,526 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Southern Crescent Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Southern Crescent Technical College

#12

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
1 Total Awards
$8,163 Average Tuition & Fees

Minot State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. This small public school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 1 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MSU are $8,163 a year.

MSU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#13

Vance-Granville Community College

Henderson, North Carolina
13 Total Awards
$6,552 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Vance-Granville Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for teaching students working on their basic certificate. Vance-Granville Community College is a small public school situated in Henderson, North Carolina. It awarded 13 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Vance-Granville Community College are $6,552 a year.

Online courses are available at Vance-Granville 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, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Vance-Granville Community College

#14

Atlanta Technical College

Atlanta, Georgia
13 Total Awards
$5,564 Average Tuition & Fees

Atlanta Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Atlanta Technical College is a small public school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 13 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Atlanta Area Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $5,564 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that Atlanta Area Tech does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 83% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Atlanta Technical College Report

#15

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
30 Total Awards
$12,824 Average Tuition & Fees

College of Lake County came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Grayslake, Illinois, and it awarded 30 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at College of Lake County are $12,824 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at College of Lake County. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

College of Lake County also made our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list, coming in at #4.

Read full report on College of Lake County

#15

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
69 Total Awards
$12,969 Average Tuition & Fees

Valley City State University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Located in Valley City, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 69 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Valley City State University undergraduate students pay an average of $12,969 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Valley City State University. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Valley City State University also took the #2 spot in our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools rankings.

Full Valley City State University Report

#17

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
23 Total Awards
$9,806 Average Tuition & Fees

Bemidji State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 23 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Bemidji State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,806 in tuition and fees each year.

Bemidji State University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Bemidji State University

#18

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
182 Total Awards
$8,927 Average Tuition & Fees

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 182 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Ivy Tech Community College. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Report

#19

Haywood Community College

Clyde, North Carolina
71 Total Awards
$8,724 Average Tuition & Fees

Haywood Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in Clyde, North Carolina that handed out 71 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Haywood Community College are $8,724 a year.

One thing to take note of is that Haywood Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#20

Pitt Community College

Winterville, North Carolina
128 Total Awards
$6,548 Average Tuition & Fees

Pitt Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Pitt Community College is located in Winterville, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 128 basic certificates to qualified students.

Pitt Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,548 in tuition and fees each year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Pitt Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Pitt Community College

#21

Miami Dade College

Miami, Florida
62 Total Awards
$9,661 Average Tuition & Fees

Miami Dade College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking. This large public school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 62 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MDC are $9,661 a year.

One thing to take note of is that MDC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Miami Dade College Report

#22

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
197 Total Awards
$7,540 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #22, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for teaching students working on their basic certificate. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 197 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CNM are $7,540 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at CNM. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 90% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Central New Mexico Community College

#23

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
5 Total Awards
$7,566 Average Tuition & Fees

Pima Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Pima County Community College District is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pima County Community College District are $7,566 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Pima County Community College District. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Pima Community College

#24

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, Massachusetts
11 Total Awards
$12,120 Average Tuition & Fees

Middlesex Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate teaching programs. Located in Bedford, Massachusetts, the medium-sized public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Middlesex Community College are $12,120 per year.

Middlesex 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.

Middlesex Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Teaching Basic Certificate Schools list.

Full Middlesex Community College Report

#25

Sinclair Community College

Dayton, Ohio
12 Total Awards
$8,076 Average Tuition & Fees

Sinclair Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Sinclair Community College are $8,076 per year.

Sinclair 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our best teaching schools ranking:

Rank School Location
26 St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN
27 Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC
28 Gaston College Dallas, NC
29 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
30 Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL
31 Essex County College Newark, NJ
32 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
33 Springfield Technical Community College Springfield, MA

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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