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2026 Best Trade Schools in Virginia
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Virginia? Our ranking highlights 147 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Trade College evaluated 106 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 Virginia
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than James Madison University this year in Virginia. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Typical Trade student debt is $21,218. Read more about James Madison University
The strong Trade programs at Danville Community College earned it the #2 place in Virginia. Located in Danville, VA, Danville Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,992, compared with $11,430 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $9,494. Read more about Danville Community College
You'll be in good company at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Read the full report on Virginia Commonwealth University
The strong Trade programs at Old Dominion University earned it the #4 place in Virginia. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Old Dominion University Trade students take on a median of $26,001 in debt. See the full Old Dominion University profile
Radford University came in at #5 on this year's Trade ranking in Virginia. Set in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans. Read the full report on Radford University
Northern Virginia Community College did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Annandale, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Northern Virginia Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,495 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Piedmont Virginia Community College profile
Ecpi University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Virginia Beach, VA, Ecpi University is a private for-profit institution. Ecpi University posts a six-year graduation rate of 28%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Typical Trade student debt is $27,988. Read more about Ecpi University
George Mason University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. George Mason University Trade students take on a median of $23,529 in debt. Get the full George Mason University report
Liberty University landed the #10 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $27,414. Read the full report on Liberty University
Wytheville Community College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Wytheville, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $9,542. Get the full Wytheville Community College report
Thomas Nelson Community College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Hampton, VA, Thomas Nelson Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,088, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Graduates carry a median of $14,402 in student loans. Read the full report on Thomas Nelson Community College
South Universityvirginia Beach landed the #13 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Virginia Beach, VA, South Universityvirginia Beach is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 10%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,895. South Universityvirginia Beach Trade students take on a median of $48,920 in debt. Get the full South Universityvirginia Beach report
John Tyler Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. John Tyler Community College is a public school based in Chester, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on John Tyler Community College
Tidewater Community College landed the #15 spot in Virginia this year. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $14,001. More on Tidewater Community College
Mountain Empire Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Mountain Empire Community College is a public school based in Big Stone Gap, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,036 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Mountain Empire Community College
Southside Virginia Community College did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Alberta, VA. Students from in state pay about $5,007 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. The median Trade program debt is $7,467. More on Southside Virginia Community College
Mary Baldwin College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Staunton, VA, Mary Baldwin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Mary Baldwin College posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,187. Graduates carry a median of $29,562 in student loans. Read the full report on Mary Baldwin College
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave landed the #20 spot in Virginia this year. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a public school based in Weyers Cave, VA. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. Students borrow a median of $11,768 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave report
Dabney S Lancaster Community College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Clifton Forge, VA, Dabney S Lancaster Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,022, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Read more about Dabney S Lancaster Community College
Central Virginia Community College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Central Virginia Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,595 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $10,384. See the full Central Virginia Community College profile
Centura College Newport News landed the #23 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Newport News, VA, Centura College Newport News is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,637. Centura College Newport News Trade students take on a median of $16,694 in debt. Read more about Centura College Newport News
Patrick Henry Community College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Set in Martinsville, VA, Patrick Henry Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,002 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,440. Graduates carry a median of $11,235 in student loans. Read more about Patrick Henry Community College
Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #25 spot in Virginia this year. This public school is set in Middletown, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. Typical Trade student debt is $10,698. See the full Lord Fairfax Community College profile
Virginia Highlands Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Abingdon, VA, Virginia Highlands Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,022, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. The median Trade program debt is $7,490. Get the full Virginia Highlands Community College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Virginia
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Virginia Western Community College landed the #27 spot in Virginia this year. This public school is set in Roanoke, VA. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Read the full report on Virginia Western Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Based in Richmond, VA, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Typical Trade student debt is $16,131. Get the full J Sargeant Reynolds Community College report
New River Community College landed the #29 spot in Virginia this year. Based in Dublin, VA, New River Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,979, with out-of-state students paying around $11,417. Students borrow a median of $13,132 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full New River Community College report
Southwest Virginia Community College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Cedar Bluff, VA, Southwest Virginia Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,075, while out-of-state students pay about $11,513. Southwest Virginia Community College Trade students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. More on Southwest Virginia Community College
Centura College Virginia Beach did well this year, earning the #31 position. This private for-profit school is set in Virginia Beach, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,637. Typical Trade student debt is $18,807. More on Centura College Virginia Beach
Columbia College Fairfax landed the #32 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Vienna, VA, Columbia College Fairfax is a private for-profit institution. The median Trade program debt is $4,665. Read more about Columbia College Fairfax
National College Salem ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Salem, VA, National College Salem is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,716 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $27,930. Get the full National College Salem report
Paul D Camp Community College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Paul D Camp Community College is a public school based in Franklin, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,012, with out-of-state students paying around $11,450. Graduates carry a median of $11,074 in student loans. Read the full report on Paul D Camp Community College
Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach placed #35 among Trade schools in Virginia. Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,752 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $25,715. Read the full report on Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach
Germanna Community College landed the #37 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Locust Grove, VA, Germanna Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, compared with $11,648 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $10,999. More on Germanna Community College
Rappahannock Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Glenns, VA, Rappahannock Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,102, compared with $11,540 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,997 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Rappahannock Community College report
Richmond School Of Health And Technology landed the #37 spot in Virginia this year. More on Richmond School Of Health And Technology
Appalachian College Of Pharmacy came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Appalachian College Of Pharmacy
Galen Health Institutes Richmond came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Galen Health Institutes Richmond report
Paul Mitchell The School Woodbridge ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Paul Mitchell The School Woodbridge
University Of Management And Technology did well this year, earning the #41 position. More on University Of Management And Technology
Virginia Beach City Public Schools School Of Practical Nursing came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full Virginia Beach City Public Schools School Of Practical Nursing report
Centura College Chesapeake came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Centura College Chesapeake
Virginia School Of Hair Design did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Virginia School Of Hair Design report
Centura College Norfolk ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Centura College Norfolk profile
Regent University placed #46 among Trade schools in Virginia. Get the full Regent University report
Danville Regional Medical Center School Of Health Professions landed the #47 spot in Virginia this year. Read more about Danville Regional Medical Center School Of Health Professions
Riverside College Of Health Careers placed #48 among Trade schools in Virginia. More on Riverside College Of Health Careers
Northern Virginia School Of Therapeutic Massage placed #49 among Trade schools in Virginia. See the full Northern Virginia School Of Therapeutic Massage profile
Fortis College Richmond ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Fortis College Richmond
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 106 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 147 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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