Find Trade Colleges

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Trade Schools

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Trade Schools

1,440 Schools Ranked
$42,911 Average Earnings
$29,297 Avg Student Debt

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,440 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in the United States

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

139 Total Awards

Our analysis found Highlands College of Montana Tech to be the best school for trade school students in the United States. Highlands College of Montana Tech is a very small public school located in Butte, Montana that handed out 139 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Highlands College of Montana Tech Report

#2

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, Alabama
5,998 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Columbia Southern University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in the United States. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in Orange Beach, Alabama that handed out 5,998 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Columbia Southern University Report

#3

Stephens College

Columbia, Missouri
152 Total Awards

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Stephens College is a great place for trade school students. Stephens is located in Columbia, Missouri and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 152 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#4

University of Providence

Great Falls, Montana
391 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Providence. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools list. University of Providence is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Great Falls, Montana. It awarded 391 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Providence

#5

Ottawa University - Online

Ottawa, Kansas
95 Total Awards

Out of the 1,440 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Online landed the # 5 spot on the list. Ottawa University - Online is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ottawa, Kansas. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 95 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#6

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa
919 Total Awards

Waldorf University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Trade Schools list. Located in Forest City, Iowa, the small private for-profit school awarded 919 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#7

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota
583 Total Awards

Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Madison, South Dakota, the small public school handed out 583 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Dakota State University Report

#8

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
585 Total Awards

Elizabethtown College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 585 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Elizabethtown College

#9

Miami University - Hamilton

Hamilton, Ohio
524 Total Awards

Miami University - Hamilton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools ranking. Located in Hamilton, Ohio, the small public school awarded 524 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Miami University - Hamilton

#10

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
980 Total Awards

University of St Francis landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Joliet, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 980 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of St Francis

#11

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
9,725 Total Awards

Northwestern University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 9,725 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Northwestern University

#12

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10,067 Total Awards

University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools ranking. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,067 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Pennsylvania

#13

Ottawa University - Kansas City

Overland Park, Kansas
185 Total Awards

Ottawa University - Kansas City landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 185 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

405 Total Awards

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Angola, Indiana, and it awarded 405 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Report

#15

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, New Jersey
2,792 Total Awards

New Jersey Institute of Technology landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Newark, New Jersey, the fairly large public school handed out 2,792 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on New Jersey Institute of Technology

#16

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina
7,469 Total Awards

Clemson University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools ranking. Clemson is located in Clemson, South Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7,469 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#17

Ottawa University - Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona
389 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Ottawa University - Phoenix did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 389 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#18

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
13,356 Total Awards

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the large public school handed out 13,356 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Report

#19

Wagner College

Staten Island, New York
554 Total Awards

Wagner College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools list. Staten Island, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 554 students in 2021-2022.

Full Wagner College Report

#20

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
1,737 Total Awards

University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools ranking. UW - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,737 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on University of Wisconsin - Stout

#21

Excelsior University

Albany, New York
4,461 Total Awards

With a ranking of #21, Excelsior University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Excelsior University is located in Albany, New York and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,461 degrees to qualified students.

Full Excelsior University Report

132 Total Awards

With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex is a very small public school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 132 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report

#24

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
9,043 Total Awards

Washington State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Trade Schools list. Wazzu is a large public school situated in Pullman, Washington. It awarded 9,043 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Washington State University Report

#25

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
20,117 Total Awards

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #25 on this year’s Best Trade Schools list. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20,117 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Report

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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.

Featured Schools

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.