2023 Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 96 schools in the Plains States Region 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.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Southeast Community College Area to be the best value school for students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the Plains States Region . Southeast Community College Area is a medium-sized public school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 181 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,570 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Southeast Community College. In 2019-2020 about 42% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Highland Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in the Plains States Region . This small public school is located in Highland, Kansas, and it awarded 99 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Highland Community College are $3,570 a year.
Depending on your major, you 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Cloud County Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Cloud County Community College is located in Concordia, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Cloud County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,570 in tuition and fees each year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cloud County Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Inver Hills Community College is a great place for students working on their undergraduate certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. IHCC is a small public school situated in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. It awarded 16 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
IHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,809 in tuition and fees each year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $22,912 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at IHCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
IHCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Grand Island, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 597 students in 2020-2021.
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.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Central Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 12 students 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. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,599 in student loans.
Online courses are available at North Hennepin 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.
Hutchinson 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 #7 on the 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.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $17,190 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Hutchinson Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 45% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. ATCC is a public institution located in Alexandria, Minnesota. The school has a small population, 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. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,612 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that ATCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
In addition to its great value ranking, ATCC is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Read full report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Rochester, Minnesota that handed out 92 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Rochester Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,372 in tuition and fees each year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $22,595 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 Rochester Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Rochester Community and Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Neosho County Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Neosho County Community College is a small public school situated in Chanute, Kansas. It awarded 142 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 per year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,677 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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. In 2019-2020 about 42% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. Central Lakes College - Brainerd is a small public school located in Brainerd, Minnesota that handed out 266 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Central Lakes College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,954 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,176 in student loans.
Central Lakes College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 32% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Central Lakes College also claimed a spot on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Century College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 301 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,685 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Century College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Century College also claimed a spot on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Northeast 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 #13 on the list. Northeast is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Nebraska. It awarded 110 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Northeast undergraduate students pay an average of $5,010 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $9,413 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Northeast. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Hennepin Technical 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 #14 on the list. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 475 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Hennepin Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,741 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,758 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Hennepin Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Hennepin Technical College also is in the top 20% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
With a ranking of #14, Ridgewater College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in Willmar, Minnesota that handed out 239 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Ridgewater College are $5,914 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,133 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Ridgewater College. In 2019-2020 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ridgewater College also claimed a spot on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 180 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Northwest Iowa Community College are $6,840 a year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,120 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Northwest Iowa Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northwest Iowa Community College also took the #5 spot in our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region rankings.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 432 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Western Iowa Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees each year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,541 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Metropolitan Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 225 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $4,680 per year.
Online courses are available at MCC, 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, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
St Cloud Technical and 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 #19 on the list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 274 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
St Cloud Technical and Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,874 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,211 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at St Cloud Technical and Community College. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on St Cloud Technical and Community College
Saint Paul College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 369 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Saint Paul College are $6,041 a year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,089 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Saint Paul College. In 2019-2020 about 75% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Dakota County Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Dakota County Technical College is a small public school located in Rosemount, Minnesota that handed out 242 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DCTC are $6,208 per year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,790 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DCTC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 249 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,052 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $15,734 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Northland Community and Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Northland Community and Technical College
Anoka Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Anoka, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 238 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka Technical College are $6,075 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,931 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Anoka Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #23, Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota that handed out 348 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
M State undergraduate students pay an average of $5,862 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,935 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at M State. In 2019-2020 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. LATI is located in Watertown, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 225 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LATI are $6,718 a year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,587 in student loans.
LATI 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 44% took at least some of their classes online.
LATI also claimed a spot on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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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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