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2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools

2,628 Schools Ranked
$4,300 Avg Tuition & Fees*

A trade school student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 2,628 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular basic certificate programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular schools below:

#1

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
10,757 Total Awards
$4,637 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the United States. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 10,757 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Ivy Tech Community College is $4,637. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,927. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Ivy Tech Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Report

3,006 Total Awards
$4,640 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Bluegrass Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the United States. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the fairly large public school handed out 3,006 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Bluegrass Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,560. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.

Online courses are available at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 72% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Bluegrass Community and Technical College Report

2,430 Total Awards
$4,640 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you attend Jefferson Community and Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. This fairly large public school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 2,430 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees if they attend Jefferson Community and Technical College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,560. Around 29% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Jefferson Community and Technical College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College

#4

Tulsa Technology Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma
2,002 Total Awards

The excellent basic certificate programs at Tulsa Technology Center helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the United States. This small public school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 2,002 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Tulsa Technology Center Report

1,714 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you attend Mountainland Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. This small public school is located in Lehi, Utah, and it awarded 1,714 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#6

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, Georgia
3,146 Total Awards
$3,082 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Georgia Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. CGTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Warner Robins, Georgia. It awarded 3,146 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Georgia who attend CGTC full time pay an average of $3,082 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,482. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.

One thing to take note of is that CGTC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 46% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Central Georgia Technical College

#7

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
1,945 Total Awards
$4,826 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Fox Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 1,945 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FVTC is $4,826. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,977. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.

One thing to take note of is that FVTC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 31% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Fox Valley Technical College Report

#8

Front Range Community College

Westminster, Colorado
3,473 Total Awards
$4,126 Average Tuition & Fees

Front Range Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school handed out 3,473 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FRCC is $4,126. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,776. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at FRCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Front Range Community College

2,462 Total Awards
$4,640 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Gateway Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Gateway Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Florence, Kentucky that handed out 2,462 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,640 in tuition and fees if they attend Gateway full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,560. Of those students who received their degree, 29% were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Gateway. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

2,206 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,206 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from Kentucky who attend Elizabethtown Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480. Around 26% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. In fact, around 63% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

2,036 Total Awards

Columbus State Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Columbus State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,036 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Columbus State does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Columbus State Community College

#12

Chattahoochee Technical College

Marietta, Georgia
3,377 Total Awards
$3,252 Average Tuition & Fees

Chattahoochee Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Chattahoochee Technical College is a public institution located in Marietta, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,377 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $3,252 in tuition and fees if they attend Chattahoochee Technical College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,652. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.

Online courses are available at Chattahoochee Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 56% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

2,064 Total Awards
$3,112 Average Tuition & Fees

Georgia Northwestern Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #13 on the list. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is located in Rome, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,064 basic certificates to qualified students.

Students from Georgia who attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College full time pay an average of $3,112 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,512. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Georgia Northwestern Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Georgia Northwestern Technical College

2,121 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

Maysville Community and Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Maysville Community and Technical College is located in Maysville, Kentucky and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,121 basic certificates to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $4,560 in tuition and fees if they attend Maysville Community and Technical College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,480. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Maysville Community and Technical College. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Maysville Community and Technical College

#15

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
1,378 Total Awards
$9,842 Average Tuition & Fees

College of Lake County ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,378 basic certificates to qualified students.

Students from Illinois who attend College of Lake County full time pay an average of $9,842 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,118. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.

One thing to take note of is that College of Lake County does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on College of Lake County

#16

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
1,579 Total Awards

Lone Star College System landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school awarded 1,579 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.

Some students may be able to take online classes at North Harris Montgomery. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Lone Star College System Report

1,788 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

West Kentucky Community and Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Paducah, Kentucky. It awarded 1,788 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College is $4,560. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#18

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, North Carolina
3,202 Total Awards
$2,768 Average Tuition & Fees

Wake Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Wake Technical Community College is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 3,202 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $2,768 in tuition and fees if they attend Wake Technical Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,912. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.

Wake Technical Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Wake Technical Community College Report

1,800 Total Awards
$3,122 Average Tuition & Fees

West Georgia Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. West Georgia Technical College is a public institution located in Waco, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,800 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at West Georgia Technical College is $3,122. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,522. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.

Online courses are available at West Georgia Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#20

University of Phoenix - Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona
4,818 Total Awards

University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 4,818 students in 2021-2022.

Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.

Online courses are available at UOPX - Arizona, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Report

#21

Savannah Technical College

Savannah, Georgia
1,779 Total Awards
$3,042 Average Tuition & Fees

Savannah Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in Savannah, Georgia, the small public school awarded 1,779 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Students from Georgia who attend Savannah Tech full time pay an average of $3,042 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,442. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.

Savannah Tech does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Savannah Technical College

#22

Sinclair Community College

Dayton, Ohio
7,572 Total Awards
$4,569 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #22, Sinclair Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Dayton, Ohio, the fairly large public school awarded 7,572 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Sinclair Community College is $4,569. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,316. Around 29% of those degree recipients were women.

Online courses are available at Sinclair Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Sinclair Community College Report

1,475 Total Awards
$3,162 Average Tuition & Fees

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, the small public school awarded 1,475 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is $3,162. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,562. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.

Online courses are available at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 45% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

1,604 Total Awards
$4,560 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #24, Ashland Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Ashland Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Ashland, Kentucky that handed out 1,604 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at ACTC is $4,560. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,480. Of those students who received their degree, 37% were women.

One thing to take note of is that ACTC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 56% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#25

Tulsa Welding School-Houston

Houston, Texas
1,055 Total Awards

Tulsa Welding School-Houston ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. This small private for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 1,055 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Around 9% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#27

Somerset Community College

Somerset, Kentucky
#27

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, Wisconsin
#30

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#31

Advanced Career Institute

Visalia, California
#34

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
#35

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Green Bay, Wisconsin
#36

Coastal Pines Technical College

Waycross, Georgia
#37

Atlanta Technical College

Atlanta, Georgia
#38

Martinsburg College

Martinsburg, West Virginia
#39

Central Community College

Grand Island, Nebraska
#40

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin
#41

Davis Technical College

Kaysville, Utah
#44

Gwinnett Technical College

Lawrenceville, Georgia
#45

Pikes Peak Community College

Colorado Springs, Colorado
#47

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Prestonsburg, Kentucky
#49

Valencia College

Orlando, Florida
#50

Lanier Technical College

Gainesville, Georgia

To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:

Rank School Location
51 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
52 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
53 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
54 National University College Bayamon, PR
55 Madisonville Community College Madisonville, KY
56 Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS
57 El Centro College Dallas, TX
58 Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO
59 Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC
60 Pueblo Community College Pueblo, CO
61 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
62 Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
63 Contra Costa Medical Career College Antioch, CA
64 New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT
65 ,
66 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
67 Diesel Driving Academy, Shreveport Shreveport, LA
68 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
69 Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LA
70 Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI
71 John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL
72 Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LA
73 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
74 Diesel Driving Academy, Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA
74 Pima Community College Tucson, AZ
76 Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA
77 Olympic College Bremerton, WA
78 Lee College Baytown, TX
79 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI
80 Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA
81 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
82 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
83 St Philip’s College San Antonio, TX
84 Uintah Basin Technical College Roosevelt, UT
85 South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA
85 National Holistic Institute Emeryville, CA
87 Athens Technical College Athens, GA
88 Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR
89 Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA
90 Victor Valley College Victorville, CA
90 Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa Tulsa, OK
92 Summit College San Bernardino, CA
93 Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS
94 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS
94 Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Shell Lake, WI
96 Stark State College North Canton, OH
97 Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL
98 Unitek College Fremont, CA
99 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
100 Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA
101 City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL
102 Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA
103 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
104 Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin Las Vegas, NV
105 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
106 Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS
106 New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Connecticut Somers, CT
108 Santiago Canyon College Orange, CA
109 Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WA
109 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
111 Aims Community College Greeley, CO
112 Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GA
113 Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS
114 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
115 National University San Diego, CA
116 Access Careers Hempstead, NY
117 Northwestern Technological Institute Southfield, MI
117 Gaston College Dallas, NC
119 Augusta Technical College Augusta, GA
120 New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts North Andover, MA
121 South Texas College McAllen, TX
122 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL
123 Wallace State Community College, Hanceville Hanceville, AL
124 Northwest-Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals, AL
125 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
126 Institute for Business and Technology Santa Clara, CA
127 Concorde Career College - Memphis Memphis, TN
127 Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC
129 Apollo Career Center Lima, OH
130 Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX
131 Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting Nashville, TN
132 Douglas J Aveda Institute East Lansing, MI
133 Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville, NC
134 Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC
135 Southeastern Technical College Vidalia, GA
136 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
137 Sierra College Rocklin, CA
138 College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA
139 Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC
140 Butler Tech - D Russel Lee Career Center Monroe, OH
141 Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC
142 Pitt Community College Winterville, NC
142 Elgin Community College Elgin, IL
142 Spokane Community College Spokane, WA
145 U.S. Truck Driver Training School Sterling Heights, MI
146 Advance Beauty College Garden Grove, CA
147 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
147 Alamance Community College Graham, NC
149 Western Nevada College Carson City, NV
150 Butte College Oroville, CA
151 Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI
151 University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR
153 Southern Union State Community College Wadley, AL
153 Albany Technical College Albany, GA
155 Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro, NC
155 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
157 Western Technical College El Paso, TX
158 Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO
158 Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA
160 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL
160 Yavapai College Prescott, AZ
162 Arkansas State University - Newport Newport, AR
163 Praxis Institute Miami, FL
164 Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics West Mifflin, PA
165 Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
166 Miami Dade College Miami, FL
167 Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO
168 Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN
169 Green River College Auburn, WA
170 Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville, KY
171 Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN
172 Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT
173 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
173 New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode Island Pawtucket, RI
175 Davidson County Community College Thomasville, NC
176 Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, CA
176 Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL
176 Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS
176 Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL
180 Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA
181 The Refrigeration School Phoenix, AZ
181 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL
181 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI
184 Downey Adult School Downey, CA
185 North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA
186 Delta Technical College Horn Lake, MS
187 International Air and Hospitality Academy Vancouver, WA
188 Catawba Valley Community College Hickory, NC
188 York Technical College Rock Hill, SC
190 Antelope Valley College Lancaster, CA
190 Studio Academy of Beauty Chandler, AZ
190 Clovis Community College Clovis, NM
193 Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI
194 Dawn Career Institute LLC Newark, DE
195 High Desert Medical College Lancaster, CA
196 Asian-American International Beauty College Westminster, CA
196 L3 Commercial Training Solutions Airline Academy Sanford, FL
198 Austin Community College District Austin, TX
198 Heartland Community College Normal, IL
200 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
200 Advanced Training Institute Las Vegas, NV
200 Dixie Technical College Saint George, UT
203 Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ
204 Crowder College Neosho, MO
205 Neosho County Community College Chanute, KS
206 Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, IL
207 Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala, FL
208 Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN
208 Isothermal Community College Spindale, NC
210 Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI
210 Western Technical College La Crosse, WI
210 Trident Technical College Charleston, SC
210 Bridgerland Technical College Logan, UT
214 Hunter Business School Levittown, NY
214 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC
214 Institute of Culinary Education New York, NY
217 Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA
217 Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA
217 San Juan College Farmington, NM
220 Boca Beauty Academy Boca Raton, FL
221 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI
222 SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LA
222 Everett Community College Everett, WA
224 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
225 Rend Lake College Ina, IL
225 Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk, VA
227 Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX
227 Parkland College Champaign, IL
229 Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen, AR
230 Kaskaskia College Centralia, IL
231 Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX
231 National Career Education Citrus Heights, CA
233 Concorde Career College - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
234 McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL
234 Lincoln College of Technology - Denver Denver, CO
236 Concorde Career College - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
237 Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC
237 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN
237 All-State Career School - Lester Essington, PA
240 Celebrity School of Beauty Miami, FL
240 Wayne Community College Goldsboro, NC
240 La Belle Beauty Academy Miami, FL
240 Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde, TX
244 Palomar College San Marcos, CA
245 Lenoir Community College Kinston, NC
245 Concorde Career College - San Diego San Diego, CA
247 Southwest Technical College Cedar City, UT
247 Brookline College - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
249 NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR
249 Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS
249 Trinidad State Junior College Trinidad, CO
249 G Skin & Beauty Institute Schaumburg, IL
253 Northwest Career College Las Vegas, NV
254 Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles Pasadena, CA
254 Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC
256 Concorde Career College - Aurora Aurora, CO
256 Highland Community College Highland, KS
258 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA
258 South Hills Beauty Academy Inc Pittsburgh, PA
260 Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap, VA
261 Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Minneapolis, MN
262 Randolph Community College Asheboro, NC
263 Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL
264 Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC
265 Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FL
265 Concorde Career College - Southaven Southaven, MS
267 Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville, AL
268 Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern, AR
268 Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA
270 Houston Community College Houston, TX
270 Cypress College Cypress, CA
270 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA
270 Vista Adult School Vista, CA
274 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH
274 Bellingham Technical College Bellingham, WA
274 Danville Community College Danville, VA
277 Palace Beauty College Los Angeles, CA
278 Richland Community College Decatur, IL
278 Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute Levittown, NY
278 Bates Technical College Tacoma, WA
278 Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett Everett, WA
282 Mayfield College Cathedral City, CA
283 Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VA
284 Rock Valley College Rockford, IL
285 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford Stafford, TX
286 Infinity College Lafayette, LA
287 Mesalands Community College Tucumcari, NM
288 South Arkansas Community College El Dorado, AR
288 Southeast Arkansas College Pine Bluff, AR
290 Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LA
290 La Belle Beauty School Hialeah, FL
290 Jupiter Beauty Academy Boston, MA
293 Access Careers Islandia Islandia, NY
294 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
294 Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, CO
294 St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL
297 Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ
297 Aveda Institute - South Florida Davie, FL
297 University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton, AR
297 Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester McAlester, OK
301 Southern Careers Institute - San Antonio (NW Loop) San Antonio, TX
302 Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL
303 Crescent City Bartending School New Orleans, LA
304 Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS
304 Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics New York, NY
306 Aveda Institute - Tallahassee Tallahassee, FL
307 Midwest Technical Institute - Springfield, Illinois Springfield, IL
308 College of the Mainland Texas City, TX
308 Central Technology Center Drumright, OK
308 Salina Area Technical College Salina, KS
311 RGV Careers Pharr, TX
311 Erie 1 BOCES West Seneca, NY
313 American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education Piscataway, NJ
314 Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers Hollywood, FL
315 Concorde Career Institute - Tampa Tampa, FL
315 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
315 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL
315 Healthcare Career College Paramount, CA
319 Medical Institute of Palm Beach Greenacres, FL
320 Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Cumberland, KY
321 Durham Technical Community College Durham, NC
321 Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry Casselberry, FL
323 Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TN
323 Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
323 Cleveland Community College Shelby, NC
323 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
323 American Medical Academy Miami, FL
323 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI
323 Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy Medford, MA
323 South Plains College Levelland, TX
323 Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ
332 Midland College Midland, TX
333 Advantage Career Institute Eatontown, NJ
333 Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA
335 Blue Cliff College - Metairie Metairie, LA
336 The Fab School Rancho Cucamonga, CA
336 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson, NC
338 North American Trade Schools Baltimore, MD
339 Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN
339 Grantham University LIttle Rock, AR
339 Laredo College Laredo, TX
342 Oxnard College Oxnard, CA
343 Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville, VA
343 Cortiva Institute-Baltimore Linthicum, MD
345 College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID
345 Century College White Bear Lake, MN
347 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
348 Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OK
348 Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career Education Riverside, CA
348 Southern Careers Institute - Brownsville Brownsville, TX
351 Community College of Denver Denver, CO
351 Regional Center for Border Health Somerton, AZ
351 Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX
351 Kankakee Community College Kankakee, IL
355 Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC
355 Lord Fairfax Community College Middletown, VA
355 Northeastern Junior College Sterling, CO
358 Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL
359 Florida Academy Fort Myers, FL
359 Golden West College Huntington Beach, CA
361 National Tractor Trailer School Inc-Liverpool Liverpool, NY
362 Northland Pioneer College Holbrook, AZ
362 Snow College Ephraim, UT
362 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS
365 Sauk Valley Community College Dixon, IL
365 Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO
367 HDS Truck Driving Institute Tucson, AZ
367 National Park College Hot Springs, AR
367 Edmonds Community College Lynnwood, WA
370 Parisian Spa Institute Jacksonville, FL
370 CDA Technical Institute Jacksonville, FL
370 Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT
373 Concorde Career College - Portland Portland, OR
374 Orange Technical College - Winter Park Campus Winter Park, FL
375 Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH
375 Triton College River Grove, IL
375 Marion Technical College Ocala, FL
378 Nash Community College Rocky Mount, NC
378 Arkansas State University Mid-South West Memphis, AR
380 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San Antonio San Antonio, TX
381 Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VA
381 The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Milwaukee, WI
381 Concorde Career Institute - Orlando Orlando, FL
384 Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC
384 Black River Technical College Pocahontas, AR
386 G Skin & Beauty Institute Oakbrook, IL
386 All-State Career - Baltimore Baltimore, MD
388 Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX
389 Illinois Central College East Peoria, IL
390 Hill College Hillsboro, TX
390 Great Basin College Elko, NV
392 Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA
392 CyberTex Institute of Technology Austin, TX
392 Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento Sacramento, CA
392 Southeastern Esthetics Institute Columbia, SC
392 Brookline College - Tempe Tempe, AZ

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:

Rank School Location
397 Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TX
397 De Anza College Cupertino, CA
397 Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VA
400 Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL
400 Continental School of Beauty Culture, Rochester Rochester, NY
400 Edison State Community College Piqua, OH
400 Highland Community College Freeport, IL
404 Aveda Institute - Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN
404 Concorde Career College - North Hollywood North Hollywood, CA
404 Avenue Five Institute Austin, TX
404 Fletcher Technical Community College Schriever, LA
404 Penrose Academy Scottsdale, AZ
409 South Texas Training Center San Benito, TX
410 Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
411 Lake Land College Mattoon, IL
411 Milan Institute-Clovis Clovis, CA
413 Suncoast Technical College Sarasota, FL
414 New York Institute of Beauty Islandia, NY
414 Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Liverpool, NY
414 Central Oklahoma College Oklahoma City, OK
414 South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA
418 New Age Training New York, NY
418 Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge, LA
418 Hamrick School Medina, OH
418 Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA
422 Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland Parkland, FL
422 Concorde Career College - Dallas Dallas, TX
424 Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, WA
424 University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR
424 Concorde Career College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA
427 Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Chicago, IL
428 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
428 Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe, AR
428 Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, AL
428 Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon, WA
432 Technical College of the Rockies Delta, CO
432 Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training Marietta, OH
432 American Institute of Beauty Largo, FL
435 Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZ
435 Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KS
435 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
438 City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
438 Concorde Career Colleges Kansas City, MO
438 Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OK
441 Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook Westbrook, ME
442 John A Logan College Carterville, IL
442 Concorde Career Institute - Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
444 Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL
444 Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology Pine Brook, NJ
446 Central Carolina Technical College Sumter, SC
446 Pickens Technical College Aurora, CO
446 Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA
446 Henderson Community College Henderson, KY
446 Metropolitan Community College Omaha, NE
446 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
452 Aveda Institute Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
452 Michigan College of Beauty-Troy Troy, MI
454 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
454 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
454 Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS
454 North Seattle College Seattle, WA
458 Pima Medical Institute - Tucson Tucson, AZ
458 Pima Medical Institute - Renton Renton, WA
460 Central Coast College Salinas, CA
460 Southwestern Community College Sylva, NC
462 Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL
462 Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
462 M-DCPS The English Center Miami, FL
462 North Central Kansas Technical College Beloit, KS
466 M T Training Center Grand Prairie, TX
466 Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL
466 City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College Chicago, IL
466 Motlow State Community College Tullahoma, TN
466 Ocean Corporation Houston, TX
471 Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County Newark, OH
471 Lively Technical College Tallahassee, FL
471 Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN
471 University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR
475 Coastline Beauty College Fountain Valley, CA
476 Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SC
477 Southern Careers Institute - Pharr Pharr, TX
477 Palo Verde College Blythe, CA
479 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, FL
480 River Parishes Community College Gonzales, LA
481 Trenz Beauty Academy Calumet City, IL
481 Crafton Hills College Yucaipa, CA
481 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
481 Ann Webb Skin Institute Austin, TX
481 University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville Batesville, AR
481 Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena, AR
481 Rogue Community College Grants Pass, OR
488 Eastern College of Health Vocations, Little Rock Little Rock, AR
489 Pima Medical Institute - East Valley Mesa, AZ
489 Medical Training College Baton Rouge, LA
489 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
489 Georgia Career Institute Conyers, GA
489 The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics Virginia Beach, VA
489 My Le’s Beauty College Sacramento, CA
495 Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance Alliance, OH
495 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH
497 Turning Point Beauty College Casa Grande, AZ
498 Cerritos College Norwalk, CA
498 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson Jackson, TN
498 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
498 Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, AR
498 Cleveland State Community College Cleveland, TN
498 John Tyler Community College Chester, VA
504 All-State Career School - Pittsburgh West Mifflin, PA
504 National Tractor Trailer School Inc-Buffalo Buffalo, NY
504 Citrus College Glendora, CA
507 Spoon River College Canton, IL
507 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NC
507 Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso El Paso, TX
510 Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL
510 Houston School of Carpentry Houston, TX
512 Merced College Merced, CA
512 Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa Mesa, AZ
512 Total Image Beauty Academy Union City, NJ
512 Paris Junior College Paris, TX
512 Portland Community College Portland, OR
512 Pima Medical Institute - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
518 Cameo College of Essential Beauty Murray, UT
518 Bunker Hill Community College Boston, MA
518 Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage Falls Church, VA
518 Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL
522 Lurleen B Wallace Community College Andalusia, AL
522 City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL
524 Bossier Parish Community College Bossier City, LA
524 Latin Beauty Academy greenacres, FL
526 Bellus Academy - Poway Poway, CA
526 Remington College - Memphis Campus Memphis, TN
526 The Esthetic Institute Vienna, VA

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • 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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