2023 Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. 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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. This report analyzed 1,063 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value undergraduate certificate programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Cowley County Community College to be the best value school for students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the United States. Cowley County Community College is a small public school located in Arkansas City, Kansas that handed out 88 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Cowley College are $5,190 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,137 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Cowley College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Cowley College also did well on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 1% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Coahoma Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Coahoma Community College is a public institution located in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 167 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Coahoma Community College are $3,003 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,254 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Coahoma Community College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Out of the 1,063 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s value ranking, Clovis Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Clovis, New Mexico, the small public school awarded 106 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clovis Community College are $2,984 per year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,102 in student loans.
Clovis Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 181 students in 2020-2021.
Southeast Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,780 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,570 in student loans.
Southeast 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 42% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 1,063 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s value ranking, New Mexico Junior College landed the # 5 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, and it awarded 63 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 per year.
New Mexico Junior College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lee College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Lee College is a medium-sized public school situated in Baytown, Texas. It awarded 101 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Lee College are $4,302 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,145 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Lee College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lee College also is in the top 15% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.
Highland Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Highland, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 99 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Highland Community College are $3,570 per year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Highland Community College. In 2019-2020 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Spokane Falls Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Spokane, Washington, the small public school awarded 48 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Spokane Falls Community College are $5,135 per year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $11,572 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Spokane Falls Community College. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Spokane Falls Community College also is in the top 10% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.
North Seattle College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. This small public school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 51 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
North Seattle undergraduate students pay an average of $4,799 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,179 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that North Seattle does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Seattle also is in the top 10% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.
Cloud County Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Concordia, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 91 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 per year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Cloud County Community College. In 2019-2020 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #11, Inver Hills Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 16 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at IHCC are $5,809 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $22,912 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at IHCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 85% took at least some of their classes online.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, IHCC also is in the top 5% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.
Panola College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Carthage, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 335 students in 2020-2021.
Panola College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Panola College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Panola College also did well on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Central Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Central Community College is located in Grand Island, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 597 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,590 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $10,103 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Central Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas is a small public school located in De Queen, Arkansas that handed out 212 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UA Cossatot are $4,410 per year.
Online courses are available at UA Cossatot, 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, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Collin County Community College District ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in McKinney, Texas, the large public school awarded 465 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Collin County Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $5,104 in tuition and fees each year.
Collin County 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. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Collin County Community College District excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools list.
Read full report on Collin County Community College District
North Hennepin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #16 on the list. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 12 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $24,599 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Hennepin Community College. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
North Hennepin Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools list.
Hutchinson Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Hutchinson, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 192 students in 2020-2021.
Hutchinson Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,470 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $17,190 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Hutchinson Community College. In fact, around 45% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Seattle Central College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Seattle Central is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 207 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Seattle Central undergraduate students pay an average of $4,670 in tuition and fees each year.
Seattle Central 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, 69% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
NorthWest Arkansas Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. NWACC is a medium-sized public school situated in Bentonville, Arkansas. It awarded 520 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NWACC are $4,456 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,177 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NWACC. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Arkansas State University - Newport landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. ASUN is a small public school situated in Newport, Arkansas. It awarded 427 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ASUN are $4,320 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $14,197 in loans while pursuing their degree.
ASUN does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Highlands College of Montana Tech landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Butte, Montana, the very small public school handed out 61 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Highlands College of Montana Tech are $9,391 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $6,153 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Highlands College of Montana Tech does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 36% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Highlands College of Montana Tech also took the #4 spot in our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools rankings.
With a ranking of #22, Madison Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 640 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 per year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,600 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Madison College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Madison College also is in the top 5% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #23, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. This small public school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 174 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ATCC are $5,910 a year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,612 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at ATCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ATCC also is in the top 10% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking.
Read full report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
Delgado Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Delgado Community College is a fairly large public school located in New Orleans, Louisiana that handed out 1,266 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delgado Community College are $4,079 per year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,127 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Delgado Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. North Central Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Wausau, Wisconsin. It awarded 201 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Central Technical College are $5,415 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,125 in loans while pursuing their degree.
North Central 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. In 2019-2020 about 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, North Central Technical College also did well on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by Region
Rest of the Top Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
More Nationwide Rankings
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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