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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. This small public school is located in Seattle, Washington, 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. BC is located in Bellevue, Washington and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,387 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Bellevue College

#3

Olympic College

Bremerton, Washington
2,461 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Olympic College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Washington. Olympic College is a small public school located in Bremerton, Washington that handed out 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. Located in Seattle, Washington, the small public school handed out 1,229 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Seattle Central College

#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 small private for-profit school situated in Vancouver, Washington. 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. Ellensburg, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,968 students in 2021-2022.

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#7

Centralia College

Centralia, Washington
555 Total Awards

Centralia College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Washington list. Located in Centralia, Washington, the small public school handed out 555 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Centralia College Report

#8

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington
3,463 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, Eastern Washington University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Cheney, Washington, and it awarded 3,463 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Eastern Washington University

#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. Tacoma, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,717 students in 2021-2022.

Full Tacoma Community College Report

#10

Highline College

Des Moines, Washington
1,145 Total Awards

Highline College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Washington list. Des Moines, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,145 students in 2021-2022.

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#11

Shoreline Community College

Shoreline, Washington
1,189 Total Awards

Shoreline Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Washington ranking. Shoreline, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,189 students in 2021-2022.

Full Shoreline Community College Report

#12

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington
1,633 Total Awards

With a ranking of #12, Clover Park Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This small public school is located in Lakewood, Washington, and it awarded 1,633 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#13

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, Washington
835 Total Awards

Bellingham Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. This small public school is located in Bellingham, Washington, and it awarded 835 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#14

Wenatchee Valley College

Wenatchee, Washington
926 Total Awards

Wenatchee Valley College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. WVC is a public institution located in Wenatchee, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 926 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Wenatchee Valley College Report

1,272 Total Awards

With a ranking of #15, Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small public school handed out 1,272 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Lake Washington Institute of Technology Report

#16

Columbia Basin College

Pasco, Washington
1,599 Total Awards

Columbia Basin College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. CBC is located in Pasco, Washington and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,599 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Columbia Basin College

#17

Spokane Community College

Spokane, Washington
1,969 Total Awards

Spokane Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in Spokane, Washington, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,969 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Spokane Community College

#18

Whatcom Community College

Bellingham, Washington
1,193 Total Awards

With a ranking of #18, Whatcom Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Whatcom Community College is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,193 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Whatcom Community College

#19

Clark College

Vancouver, Washington
1,596 Total Awards

Clark College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. 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. This small public school is located in Yakima, Washington, and it awarded 1,136 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#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. Skagit Valley College is located in Mount Vernon, Washington and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 974 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Skagit Valley College

#22

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington
1,248 Total Awards

Spokane Falls Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Spokane Falls Community College is located in Spokane, Washington and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,248 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Spokane Falls Community College

#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. This small public school is located in Aberdeen, Washington, and it awarded 427 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Grays Harbor College

#24

Renton Technical College

Renton, Washington
613 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, Renton Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Renton, Washington, the small public school handed out 613 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Renton Technical College Report

#25

Everett Community College

Everett, Washington
1,579 Total Awards

Everett Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in Everett, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,579 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Everett Community College Report

Best Trade Schools in the Far Western US Region

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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.

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