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2026 Best Trade Schools in Washington
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Washington? We have ranked 97 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Trade College evaluated 82 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 Washington
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Seattle Community College North Campus this year in Washington. Seattle Community College North Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. Students from in state pay about $5,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,796 for out-of-state students. Seattle Community College North Campus Trade students take on a median of $16,643 in debt. More on Seattle Community College North Campus
A rank of #2 makes Bellevue College one of the top choices in Washington. Set in Bellevue, WA, Bellevue College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,436, while out-of-state students pay about $10,502. Graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans. Read the full report on Bellevue College
Olympic College came in at #3 on this year's Trade ranking in Washington. Located in Bremerton, WA, Olympic College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,472, while out-of-state students pay about $9,740. The median Trade program debt is $11,497. Get the full Olympic College report
Seattle Community College Central Campus came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Washington. Located in Seattle, WA, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Typical Trade student debt is $14,699. See the full Seattle Community College Central Campus profile
Central Washington University placed #6 among Trade schools in Washington. This public school is set in Ellensburg, WA. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,417, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. Students borrow a median of $21,988 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Central Washington University
Centralia College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Centralia, WA, Centralia College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,266, compared with $5,651 for out-of-state students. See the full Centralia College profile
Eastern Washington University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Cheney, WA, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Eastern Washington University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $21,754 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Eastern Washington University
Tacoma Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Tacoma, WA, Tacoma Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,507, with out-of-state students paying around $11,646. Tacoma Community College Trade students take on a median of $14,822 in debt. More on Tacoma Community College
Highline Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Des Moines, WA. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Students borrow a median of $8,958 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Highline Community College report
Shoreline Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Shoreline, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,115, with out-of-state students paying around $7,905. The median Trade program debt is $16,700. More on Shoreline Community College
Clover Park Technical College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Lakewood, WA, Clover Park Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,634. Clover Park Technical College Trade students take on a median of $15,154 in debt. Read the full report on Clover Park Technical College
Bellingham Technical College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Bellingham Technical College is a public school based in Bellingham, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,431, while out-of-state students pay about $5,809. Get the full Bellingham Technical College report
Wenatchee Valley College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Wenatchee, WA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,552, with out-of-state students paying around $5,054. The median Trade program debt is $11,462. More on Wenatchee Valley College
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #15 among Trade schools in Washington. This public school is set in Kirkland, WA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $19,695. Read the full report on Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Columbia Basin College placed #16 among Trade schools in Washington. Located in Pasco, WA, Columbia Basin College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,555, with out-of-state students paying around $8,668. Columbia Basin College Trade students take on a median of $17,170 in debt. See the full Columbia Basin College profile
Spokane Community College placed #17 among Trade schools in Washington. Located in Spokane, WA, Spokane Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. More on Spokane Community College
Whatcom Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Bellingham, WA, Whatcom Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,296, with out-of-state students paying around $11,435. Whatcom Community College Trade students take on a median of $16,588 in debt. More on Whatcom Community College
Clark College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Vancouver, WA, Clark College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,233, compared with $11,183 for out-of-state students. Clark College Trade students take on a median of $15,432 in debt. See the full Clark College profile
Yakima Valley Community College placed #20 among Trade schools in Washington. This public school is set in Yakima, WA. Students from in state pay about $5,312 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,873. Graduates carry a median of $14,649 in student loans. Read the full report on Yakima Valley Community College
Skagit Valley College placed #21 among Trade schools in Washington. Set in Mount Vernon, WA, Skagit Valley College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, compared with $7,410 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $14,056. Read more about Skagit Valley College
Spokane Falls Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Spokane Falls Community College is a public school based in Spokane, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Spokane Falls Community College Trade students take on a median of $17,031 in debt. Read the full report on Spokane Falls Community College
Grays Harbor College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Aberdeen, WA, Grays Harbor College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,593, while out-of-state students pay about $12,553. Students borrow a median of $12,524 to complete their Trade program here. More on Grays Harbor College
Renton Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Renton, WA, Renton Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Renton Technical College Trade students take on a median of $18,582 in debt. Read the full report on Renton Technical College
Everett Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Everett, WA, Everett Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,032, while out-of-state students pay about $11,171. The median Trade program debt is $13,542. Read the full report on Everett Community College
Big Bend Community College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Set in Moses Lake, WA, Big Bend Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,059, compared with $5,619 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,662 in student loans. More on Big Bend Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Washington
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Walla Walla Community College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Based in Walla Walla, WA, Walla Walla Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,279, with out-of-state students paying around $6,700. The median Trade program debt is $15,500. See the full Walla Walla Community College profile
Lower Columbia College landed the #28 spot in Washington this year. This public school is set in Longview, WA. Students from in state pay about $4,626 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,003 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $14,340. More on Lower Columbia College
South Puget Sound Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Set in Olympia, WA, South Puget Sound Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, with out-of-state students paying around $5,818. Students borrow a median of $14,245 to complete their Trade program here. See the full South Puget Sound Community College profile
Peninsula College landed the #30 spot in Washington this year. Peninsula College is a public school based in Port Angeles, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,718, with out-of-state students paying around $5,270. The median Trade program debt is $12,730. Get the full Peninsula College report
Bjs Beauty And Barber College Tacoma ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Bjs Beauty And Barber College Tacoma
Heritage University placed #31 among Trade schools in Washington. Read more about Heritage University
Whitman College
Whitman College landed the #32 spot in Washington this year. See the full Whitman College profile
Northwest College Of Art And Design came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on Northwest College Of Art And Design
Carrington College Spokane placed #34 among Trade schools in Washington. Read the full report on Carrington College Spokane
Zorganics Institute Of Beauty And Wellness ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Zorganics Institute Of Beauty And Wellness
Gary Manuel Aveda Institute ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Gary Manuel Aveda Institute
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary landed the #37 spot in Washington this year. More on Faith Evangelical College And Seminary
Seattle Community College South Campus came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read more about Seattle Community College South Campus
City University Of Seattle came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full City University Of Seattle report
Pacific Lutheran University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Pacific Lutheran University profile
Bastyr University landed the #41 spot in Washington this year. More on Bastyr University
Seattle Institute Of Oriental Medicine ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Seattle Institute Of Oriental Medicine
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline report
Pacific Northwest University Of Health Sciences placed #44 among Trade schools in Washington. More on Pacific Northwest University Of Health Sciences
International Beauty Education Center placed #45 among Trade schools in Washington. See the full International Beauty Education Center profile
Fosbre Academy Of Hair Design placed #46 among Trade schools in Washington. Read the full report on Fosbre Academy Of Hair Design
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #47 spot in Washington this year. Read the full report on University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Northwest Indian College placed #48 among Trade schools in Washington. Read the full report on Northwest Indian College
Washington State University did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Washington State University
Seattle Pacific University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Seattle Pacific University
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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 · 82 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 97 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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