Find Trade Colleges

Best Trade Schools in Washington

2023 Best Trade Schools in Washington

30 Schools Ranked
$45,700 Average Earnings
$28,703 Avg Student Debt

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Our analysis looked at 30 schools in Washington to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Washington

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

North Seattle College

Seattle, Washington
748 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named North Seattle College the best school in Washington for trade school students working on their degree. North Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 748 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on North Seattle College

#2

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
2,387 Total Awards

Out of the 30 schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Bellevue, Washington, the fairly large public school awarded 2,387 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Bellevue College Report

#3

Olympic College

Bremerton, Washington
2,461 Total Awards

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Olympic College is a great place for trade school students. OC is a public institution located in Bremerton, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,461 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Olympic College

#4

Seattle Central College

Seattle, Washington
1,229 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Seattle Central College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Washington list. Seattle Central is located in Seattle, Washington and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,229 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#5

Charter College

Vancouver, Washington
1,305 Total Awards

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Charter College is a great place for trade school students. Charter College is a private for-profit institution located in Vancouver, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,305 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Charter College Report

#6

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington
2,968 Total Awards

Central Washington University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. CWU is located in Ellensburg, Washington and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,968 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Central Washington University

#7

Centralia College

Centralia, Washington
555 Total Awards

Centralia College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Centralia College is located in Centralia, Washington and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 555 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#8

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington
3,463 Total Awards

Eastern Washington University 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 Cheney, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 3,463 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Eastern Washington University Report

#9

Tacoma Community College

Tacoma, Washington
1,717 Total Awards

Tacoma Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Tacoma, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,717 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Tacoma Community College

#10

Highline College

Des Moines, Washington
1,145 Total Awards

Highline College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Highline is a small public school situated in Des Moines, Washington. It awarded 1,145 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#11

Shoreline Community College

Shoreline, Washington
1,189 Total Awards

With a ranking of #11, Shoreline Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Shoreline, Washington, the small public school handed out 1,189 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Shoreline Community College Report

#12

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington
1,633 Total Awards

Clover Park Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Lakewood, Washington, the small public school awarded 1,633 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#13

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, Washington
835 Total Awards

Bellingham Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a small public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 835 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Bellingham Technical College Report

#14

Wenatchee Valley College

Wenatchee, Washington
926 Total Awards

Wenatchee Valley College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Wenatchee, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 926 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Wenatchee Valley College

1,272 Total Awards

Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. LWTech is a public institution located in Kirkland, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,272 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#16

Columbia Basin College

Pasco, Washington
1,599 Total Awards

Columbia Basin College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Washington list. CBC is a public institution located in Pasco, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,599 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Columbia Basin College Report

#17

Spokane Community College

Spokane, Washington
1,969 Total Awards

Spokane Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Washington list. Located in Spokane, Washington, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,969 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Spokane Community College Report

#18

Whatcom Community College

Bellingham, Washington
1,193 Total Awards

Whatcom Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Washington list. Whatcom Community College is located in Bellingham, Washington and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,193 degrees to qualified students.

Full Whatcom Community College Report

#19

Clark College

Vancouver, Washington
1,596 Total Awards

Clark College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Washington list. Clark College is a medium-sized public school located in Vancouver, Washington that handed out 1,596 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Clark College Report

#20

Yakima Valley College

Yakima, Washington
1,136 Total Awards

Yakima Valley College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. YVC is a small public school situated in Yakima, Washington. It awarded 1,136 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Yakima Valley College Report

#21

Skagit Valley College

Mount Vernon, Washington
974 Total Awards

Skagit Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in Mount Vernon, Washington, the small public school awarded 974 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#22

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington
1,248 Total Awards

Spokane Falls Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #22 on the list. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school located in Spokane, Washington that handed out 1,248 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#23

Grays Harbor College

Aberdeen, Washington
427 Total Awards

With a ranking of #23, Grays Harbor College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Aberdeen, Washington, the small public school handed out 427 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Grays Harbor College Report

#24

Renton Technical College

Renton, Washington
613 Total Awards

Renton Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #24 on the list. Renton Technical College is a small public school situated in Renton, Washington. It awarded 613 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Renton Technical College Report

#25

Everett Community College

Everett, Washington
1,579 Total Awards

Everett Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Everett, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,579 students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

Best Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region

View Best Trade Schools Nationwide >

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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

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