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Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

88 Schools Ranked
$20,795 Avg Student Debt

A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Grad Degree Search has created the Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 88 schools in the Plains States Region to see which online graduate certificate programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
1,322 Total Awards

Our analysis found Capella University to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the Plains States Region . Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,322 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 84% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, Capella University is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Full Capella University Report

#3

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
352 Total Awards
$15,696 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 88 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 352 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#4

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri
472 Total Awards
$11,255 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 472 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

Around 67% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#5

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
1,262 Total Awards
$12,065 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Iowa helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Plains States Region . Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the large public school awarded 1,262 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 33% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full University of Iowa Report

304 Total Awards
$9,308 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 304 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 40% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

220 Total Awards
$42,128 Average Tuition & Fees

A T Still University of Health Sciences landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 220 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out A T Still University of Health Sciences. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full A T Still University of Health Sciences Report

#8

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
273 Total Awards
$11,045 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Kansas landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. University of Kansas is a large public school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 273 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

429 Total Awards
$11,902 Average Tuition & Fees

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 429 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 15% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Report

#10

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
201 Total Awards
$11,225 Average Tuition & Fees

Kansas State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 201 students in 2020-2021.

Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 52% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#11

The College of Saint Scholastica

Duluth, Minnesota
143 Total Awards
$15,502 Average Tuition & Fees

The College of Saint Scholastica did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. The College of Saint Scholastica is a small private not-for-profit school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 143 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.

Around 50% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on The College of Saint Scholastica

#12

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
194 Total Awards
$10,402 Average Tuition & Fees

Hamline University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Hamline is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 194 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Hamline University Report

#13

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
166 Total Awards
$19,096 Average Tuition & Fees

Creighton University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 166 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 50% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Creighton University Report

#14

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska
130 Total Awards
$7,751 Average Tuition & Fees
$23,815 Avg Student Debt

University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 graduate certificates to qualified students.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,815 in student loans. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Report

#15

Midland University

Fremont, Nebraska
83 Total Awards
$14,613 Average Tuition & Fees

Midland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Midland U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fremont, Nebraska. It awarded 83 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 92% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 26% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Midland University

#16

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
83 Total Awards

Park University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Parkville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 83 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 85% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Park University

#17

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
80 Total Awards

Concordia University, Saint Paul landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 80 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 94% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#18

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
158 Total Awards

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 158 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on University of Missouri - St Louis

#19

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
200 Total Awards
$7,252 Average Tuition & Fees

Wichita State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. WSU is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 200 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 37% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Wichita State University

#20

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
59 Total Awards
$8,728 Average Tuition & Fees

Pittsburg State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #20 on the list. Pittsburg, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 59 students in 2020-2021.

Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 80% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#21

Missouri State University - Springfield

Springfield, Missouri
511 Total Awards
$6,858 Average Tuition & Fees

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large public school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 511 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Missouri State University - Springfield

45 Total Awards
$11,052 Average Tuition & Fees

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. MSU Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.

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

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Report

#23

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
41 Total Awards

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Bethel University Minnesota is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 41 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#24

Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas
37 Total Awards
$4,500 Average Tuition & Fees

Fort Hays State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hays, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 37 students in 2020-2021.

Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#24

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
68 Total Awards
$6,611 Average Tuition & Fees

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 68 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Southeast Missouri State University

View Most Popular Online Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

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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