2023 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Grad Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. This report analyzed 1,287 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular graduate certificate programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Harvard University to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the United States. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1,869 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,755 in student loans. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Harvard does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Capella University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate. Capella University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,322 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 84% of those degree recipients were women.
Since the graduate programs at Capella University are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Out of the 1,287 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the # 3 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 1,269 students in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Columbia accumulate an average of $33,131 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Columbia does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 91% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 1,287 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the # 4 spot on the list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 1,262 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Iowa, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 33% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 1,287 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the # 5 spot on the list. UOPX - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,107 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UOPX - Arizona. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Liberty University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools list. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 1,102 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Liberty University does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Naval Postgraduate School did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Naval Postgraduate School is located in Monterey, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,094 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 22% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Naval Postgraduate School. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #8, The College of Saint Rose did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Albany, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 1,017 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Saint Rose, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 39% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Southern California came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 962 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at USC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 953 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Johns Hopkins accumulate an average of $19,227 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Johns Hopkins. In fact, around 85% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lamar 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 #11 on the list. Beaumont, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 882 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
Lamar University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, University of Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,016 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UF. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
George Mason University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the large public school handed out 840 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at GMU. In 2019-2020 about 87% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
DeVry University - Illinois came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. DeVry University - Illinois is a large private for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 821 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at DeVry University - Illinois. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Portland 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 #15 on the list. Portland State University is a large public school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 811 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Portland State University accumulate an average of $29,312 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Portland State University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 20% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Oregon 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 #16 on the list. Located in Corvallis, Oregon, the large public school handed out 732 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Oregon State does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 43% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and it awarded 710 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at A-State. In fact, around 83% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Washington State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Wazzu is located in Pullman, Washington and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 676 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Wazzu. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #19, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 671 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from UC accumulate an average of $21,388 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 82% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #20, George Washington University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 659 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $29,615 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
One thing to take note of is that GWU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 37% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Utah landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school handed out 639 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
U of U does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 68% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Connecticut came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in Storrs, Connecticut, the large public school awarded 598 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UCONN. In fact, around 74% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Southern New Hampshire 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 #23 on the list. Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 582 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that SNHU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of Chicago landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 561 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Ball 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 #25 on the list. This large public school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 548 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 86% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Ball State. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Graduate 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 most popular schools ranking:
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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