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2026 Best Trade Schools in Connecticut
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Connecticut? We have ranked 53 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Trade College reviewed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Connecticut
Explore the leading schools below:
Charter Oak State College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Trade degree schools in Connecticut. Based in New Britain, CT, Charter Oak State College is a public institution. Charter Oak State College graduates 100% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,506. Charter Oak State College Trade students take on a median of $23,584 in debt. Read the full report on Charter Oak State College
Quinnipiac University came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Connecticut. Based in Hamden, CT, Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,480. Quinnipiac University Trade students take on a median of $25,926 in debt. Read more about Quinnipiac University
Out of the 41 schools in Connecticut in this year's ranking, Sacred Heart University landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fairfield, CT. Sacred Heart University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,404. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete their Trade program here. More on Sacred Heart University
Central Connecticut State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in New Britain, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Central Connecticut State University Trade students take on a median of $24,340 in debt. See the full Central Connecticut State University profile
University Of New Haven ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in West Haven, CT, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of New Haven posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Students from in state pay about $47,332 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete their Trade program here. More on University Of New Haven
University Of Hartford landed the #9 spot in Connecticut this year. Based in West Hartford, CT, University Of Hartford is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,075. Students borrow a median of $25,648 to complete their Trade program here. More on University Of Hartford
University Of Connecticut ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete their Trade program here. More on University Of Connecticut
University Of Bridgeport placed #13 among Trade schools in Connecticut. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bridgeport, CT. University Of Bridgeport graduates 41% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $35,760 in tuition and fees. University Of Bridgeport Trade students take on a median of $28,601 in debt. More on University Of Bridgeport
Capital Community College landed the #14 spot in Connecticut this year. Located in New Britain, CT, Capital Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Capital Community College Trade students take on a median of $12,059 in debt. Get the full Capital Community College report
Southern Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in New Haven, CT, Southern Connecticut State University is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Students borrow a median of $24,660 to complete their Trade program here. More on Southern Connecticut State University
Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology came in at #11 in this year's ranking. More on Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology
United States Coast Guard Academy placed #12 among Trade schools in Connecticut. See the full United States Coast Guard Academy profile
Rensselaer Hartford Graduate Center Inc landed the #13 spot in Connecticut this year. More on Rensselaer Hartford Graduate Center Inc
Hartford Seminary placed #14 among Trade schools in Connecticut. More on Hartford Seminary
Dolce Llc The Academy ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Dolce Llc The Academy report
New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Connecticut ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Connecticut
Connecticut College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Connecticut College profile
Industrial Management Training Institute did well this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Industrial Management Training Institute report
Trinity College
Trinity College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Get the full Trinity College report
Eastern Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about Eastern Connecticut State University
Porter And Chester Institute Of Stratford came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read more about Porter And Chester Institute Of Stratford
Mitchell College
Mitchell College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read more about Mitchell College
Paul Mitchell The School North Haven ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Paul Mitchell The School North Haven profile
American Institute West Hartford landed the #24 spot in Connecticut this year. Read more about American Institute West Hartford
Goodwin College
Goodwin College landed the #25 spot in Connecticut this year. More on Goodwin College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Connecticut
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Paier College Of Art Inc did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Paier College Of Art Inc
Post University
Post University landed the #27 spot in Connecticut this year. Get the full Post University report
International Institute Of Cosmetology placed #28 among Trade schools in Connecticut. See the full International Institute Of Cosmetology profile
Connecticut Center For Massage Therapy Newington placed #29 among Trade schools in Connecticut. See the full Connecticut Center For Massage Therapy Newington profile
Albertus Magnus College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Albertus Magnus College
University Of Connecticut Avery Point did well this year, earning the #31 position. More on University Of Connecticut Avery Point
Yale University
Yale University placed #32 among Trade schools in Connecticut. Read more about Yale University
Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc report
Arizona College Of Nursing Hartford ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Arizona College Of Nursing Hartford profile
New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Ct Bridgeport placed #35 among Trade schools in Connecticut. More on New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Ct Bridgeport
University Of Connecticut Hartford Campus came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Connecticut Hartford Campus
Lincoln Technical Institute New Britain placed #37 among Trade schools in Connecticut. Read the full report on Lincoln Technical Institute New Britain
University Of Connecticut Tri Campus ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on University Of Connecticut Tri Campus
Branford Academy Of Hair Cosmetology Bridgeport placed #39 among Trade schools in Connecticut. See the full Branford Academy Of Hair Cosmetology Bridgeport profile
Belle Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #40 spot in Connecticut this year. More on Belle Academy Of Cosmetology
American Institute Of Healthcare And Technology came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on American Institute Of Healthcare And Technology
European Academy Of Cosmetology And Hairdressing ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on European Academy Of Cosmetology And Hairdressing
Western Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Western Connecticut State University
Fairfield University did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Fairfield University report
Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton landed the #45 spot in Connecticut this year. Get the full Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton report
Porter And Chester Institute Of Branford came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Porter And Chester Institute Of Branford
University Of Connecticut Stamford landed the #47 spot in Connecticut this year. More on University Of Connecticut Stamford
Lincoln Technical Institute East Windsor did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on Lincoln Technical Institute East Windsor
Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #49 spot in Connecticut this year. Get the full Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology report
Holy Apostles College And Seminary landed the #50 spot in Connecticut this year. Read the full report on Holy Apostles College And Seminary
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 41 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 53 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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