Are you the type of person that has always wanted the best out of life? Are you ambitious and hardworking? Do you often find yourself wanting more for your future?
Well, you’ve come to the right place. We here at Best Universities know how time-consuming, confusing, and complicated research can be. That’s why we’ve worked hard to provide you with a comprehensive list of the top trade schools in America for the year 2020.
Trade schools are educational institutions that put you on the fast-track directly to a career in your chosen field. Not only do you get the benefits of hands-on training, but you also receive exposure to real-world situations that prepare you for a lifetime of productivity in your field of interest.
What it comes down to is this: if you know you’re not cut out for a university or high levels of rigorous academia, why waste your time and money trying to figure it out when you can ease into a job that’s perfect for you? Trade School Careers is here to help you find the best place to jumpstart your education and take the first step into your future.
Top 20 Best Trade Schools 2020
1. North Central Kansas Technical College
Score: 100
Tuition: $6,398
Graduation Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 89%
Student-Faculty: 10:1
North Central Kansas Technical College has been operating as a fully-accredited institution of higher learning since its founding in 1965. The school runs over 20 different programs of specialization, and, with the training they receive here, students can choose to pursue vocations in fields like construction, health and medicine, business and technology, and so much more. North Central grants professional certificates and degrees in these fields, giving students the best possible chance at landing their dream job post-graduation. NCKTC partners with surrounding high schools, businesses, and the community to create a web of interaction and societal advancement. All in all, North Central Kansas Tech will open the doors to your future and equip you with the skill set necessary to pursue a career in whatever field you choose.
2. State Technical College of Missouri
Score: 99
Tuition: $6,338
Graduation Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 85%
Student-Faculty: 12:1
Since its founding in 1968, the State Technical College of Missouri has been dedicated to the advancement of student career education and achievement. Here, students learn the value of hard work and what it takes to become a professional in their chosen field. The school offers a wide variety of courses in 8 broad fields of study, such as health sciences, utilities technology, electronics and IT, business, and many others. Through these courses, students have opportunities to obtain vital skills that will help them compete in the job market and see them through to the ends of their careers. Overall, the State Technical College of Missouri is one of the best places to build a strong foundation in your field and jumpstart your future.
3. Mitchell Technical Institute
Score: 96.3
Tuition: $6,944
Graduation Rate: 78%
Retention Rate: 81%
Student-Faculty: 13:1
The Mitchell Technical Institute offers an education that is primarily mechanical/industry-based, aiming to promote workforce ethics and practical application of skills among its students. This school provides students with a structured learning environment that keeps them on the path to success in their fields. Mitchell offers over 40 programs in 9 different fields of study, and within each program, students gain exposure to a highly comprehensive curriculum and real-world experience. Since 1966, MTI has been committed to carrying out its vision of providing all students with top-of-the-line technical career training and qualifications. Ultimately, the Mitchell Technical Institute prioritizes the needs of its students to ensure their success and lifelong professional achievement.
4. Triangle Tech Inc.
Score: 95.8
Tuition: $17,758
Graduation Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 91%
Student-Faculty: 8:1
Triangle Tech Inc. is one of the foremost institutions for higher learning and career training in the state of Pennsylvania. As a collegiate facility, it manages a wide variety of programs that range anywhere from additive manufacturing and 3D technology to refrigeration, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology. Students of these programs have ample opportunities to develop highly specialized skillsets through hands-on work with industry professionals and experienced instructors. These trade-specific courses provide for a competitive learning environment that enhances student ability and curriculum comprehensibility, upping students’ chances of landing high-paying jobs as soon as they enter the job market. All in all, Triangle Tech Inc. is the optimal place to start your career and build a solid foundation for your future.
5. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Score: 95.5
Tuition: $4,433
Graduation Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 69%
Student-Faculty: 12:1
Since its founding in 1967, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College has been committed to the advancement of student achievement through hands-on technical training and trade mastery. Through this institution, you can even pursue an apprenticeship and obtain proficiency in a unique, high-demand skill. A few of these apprenticeships take place under construction electricians, plumbers, journeyworkers, and many other types of trade professionals. The school’s more common program options encourage high levels of individual ability, as well. Of these, students have the choice of specializing in fields like agribusiness, culinary arts, graphic and web design, welding, and so much more. With the skills and work ethic they obtain and develop at this institution, students go on to pursue careers in some of the top positions in their fields. At Southwest, the possibilities are endless.
6. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Score: 95.5
Tuition: $4,704
Graduation Rate: 55%
Retention Rate: 72%
Student-Faculty: 9:1
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College has been serving its local community of Shell Lake, Wisconsin, since 1912. The school operates over 100 different programs in nine locations across the state, making this one of the most accessible school systems in all of Wisconsin. WITC students can choose from specializations in fields like architectural woodworking/carpentry, business graphics, financial services, and so much more. These courses equip students with the skills they need to enter the workforce with a competitive edge, providing them with opportunities to complete hands-on projects and gain real-world experience. All in all, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College students graduate with high credentials and often go on to obtain professional positions in their fields.
7. North Dakota State College of Science
Score: 91.8
Tuition: $5,317
Graduation Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 72%
Student-Faculty: 13:1
Since its founding in 1903, the North Dakota State College of Science has been committed to the career training and furthering of education for its students and surrounding community of Wahpeton, North Dakota. It offers courses in 13 different fields of specialization, including liberal arts, manufacturing, information technology, architecture and construction, and many more. Through these unique curriculum tracks, students gain in-depth understandings of their respective trades and hands-on experience with professional instructors that prepare them for the workforce. Students can earn certificates, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in their chosen specialty. Ultimately, NDSCS is one of the top institutions for technical training and postsecondary education in the state of North Dakota, and for those invested in their future, this is the right place for you.
8. Northwest Iowa Community College
Score: 91.5
Tuition: $6,240
Graduation Rate: 65%
Retention Rate: 69%
Student-Faculty: 12:1
Northwest Iowa Community College has been committed to serving its surrounding community of Sheldon, Iowa, since its founding in 1966. Today, the school runs over 40 programs. These are categorized into either the Arts and Sciences or Career and Technical. Within these two categories, programs concentrate on more specialized fields, such as information technology, business management, practical nursing, industrial instrumentation and control, and much more. Students who participate in these programs receive hands-on training and professional-level instruction that equips them with marketable skills so that when they enter the workforce, they have a competitive edge. Ultimately, NWICC is the optimal place to jumpstart your future and establish a strong foundation for future success.
9. Lake Area Technical Institute
Score: 90.8
Tuition: $5,514
Graduation Rate: 71%
Retention Rate: 81%
Student-Faculty: 17:1
Lake Area Technical Institute has been committed to the furthering of education and career training for members of its surrounding community of Watertown, South Dakota, since its founding in 1965. The school offers over 30 different degree programs, many of which can be completed in a hybrid or online format, in addition to on-campus attendance. Courses cover specializations in fields like agriculture, finance, law enforcement, welding, and so much more. Through these programs, students complete hands-on training and gain real-world experience under the instruction of professional instructors. With the skills they develop here, LATI graduates often go on to pursue highly esteemable positions within their respective fields. Ultimately, Lake Area Tech is for those who value their education and are ready to jumpstart their futures.
10. Salina Area Technical College
Score: 90
Tuition: $8,315
Graduation Rate: 68%
Retention Rate: 70%
Student-Faculty: 12:1
Since its founding in 1965, Salina Technical Auto College has focused on achieving its mission of helping individuals to succeed in the fields of business and industry. The school values lifelong learning, collaboration, innovation, excellence, and diversity. It offers programs in over 13 different tracks and specializations, and students who attend get the privilege of receiving hands-on training under professional instructors in their respective fields. With these skills, students go on to pursue expert positions in any number of areas. These include auto collision repair, diesel technology, machine tool technology, and much more. All in all, Salina Area Tech is one of the best institutions for career training and localized postsecondary education in the state of Kansas.
ONLINE TRADE SCHOOLS
Are you looking for online trade schools? We’ve got you covered.
11. Northwest Louisiana Technical College
Score: 89.8
Tuition: $2,976
Graduation Rate: 63%
Retention Rate: 49%
Student-Faculty: 12:1
Located in the heart of Louisiana, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community has been operating as a career training institution and serving the members of its local Mansfield, Louisiana community since 1952. The school runs over 18 different programs of study, with particular specializations in each program. Students have a variety of options to choose from, including culinary arts, business office technology, welding, and more. With the hands-on experience and professional instruction that they receive here, students go on to obtain high-level positions within their fields. All in all, NLTCC is the jumping-off point for many career-oriented individuals, and it is the perfect place to establish a foundation for your future.
12. East Valley Institute of Technology
Score: 89.3
Tuition: $5,525
Graduation Rate: 72%
Retention Rate: 89%
Student-Faculty: 20:1
Since its founding in 1991, the East Valley Institute of Technology has been committed to the furthering of education and career training within its surrounding community of Mesa, Arizona. The school promotes hard work, highly-comprehensive academia, and a positive learning environment, and the campus doors are open to both adult learners and high school students. Programs range anywhere from behavioral sciences, culinary arts, surgical technology, and much more. These programs are led by experienced professional instructors who specialize in hands-on training. They help to navigate students through their respective fields of study and direct them towards a stable, lifelong profession. Ultimately, the East Valley Institute of Technology is one of the best places to get a headstart in the job market and in your career.
13. Johnson College
Score: 88.8
Tuition: $19,745
Graduation Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 74%
Student-Faculty: 9:1
Johnson College has been serving the members of its surrounding community of Scranton, Pennsylvania, since its founding in 1912. Today, the school offers a variety of fundamental programs in fields relating to electronic and industrial professions, animal science, health science, transportation, and much more. Within these courses, students can choose from 14 different degree programs that will set them on the right track toward their futures by providing them with a competitive edge in the job market. The curricula are fully-comprehensive and provide students with the skills necessary to become professionals in their respective fields eventually. All in all, JC has been providing high-quality education and real-world career training for over 100 years, and it continues to do so today.
14. Northeast Community College
Score: 87.8
Tuition: $3,660
Graduation Rate: 48%
Retention Rate: 67%
Student-Faculty: 16:1
Northeast Community College has been in the business of creating a positive learning environment and cultivating honorable values since it was founded in 1973. Today, the school continues to carry out that mission, providing students with a wholesome academic community in the heart of rural Nebraska. Of the 122 program options that Northeast offers, students can choose to major in anything ranging from automotive light service technology to early childhood education, or veterinary technology to digital journalism and social media management. With the hands-on training and professional instruction they receive in these courses, students often go on to pursue top-tier positions and become experts in their fields. Ultimately, to those who are invested in their futures and want to jumpstart their lifelong careers, Northeast Community College is the place for you.
15. Moraine Park Technical College
Score: 87.8
Tuition: $4,440
Graduation Rate: 44%
Retention Rate: 73%
Student-Faculty: 16:1
Located in the heart of rural Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Moraine Park Technical College has been committed to the furthering of education and career training since it was founded in 1912. Today, the school runs a wide variety of different degree programs, many of which can be completed online or in a hybrid format–making the courses easily accessible to students from all walks of life. These courses range anywhere from criminal justice to small business entrepreneurship, and information technology to architectural technology. With the skills they obtain throughout these programs, students will be able to enter the workforce with a competitive edge and become professionals in their respective fields. All in all, Moraine Park Tech is the optimal place for those invested in their success to jumpstart their future.
16. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Score: 87.8
Tuition: $8,250
Graduation Rate: 67%
Retention Rate: 80%
Student-Faculty: 16:1
Since it was founded in 1905, the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology has been committed to the furthering of individual education and career training for members of its surrounding community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school offers over 20 different programs and specializations, complete with hands-on, project-oriented coursework that equips students with the skills necessary to become professionals in their respective fields. The curriculum centers in specialties like carpentry technology, graphic communications & printing technology, water & environmental technology, and much more. With the skills they gain in these top-of-the-line courses, students go on to compete in the job market and pursue highly esteemable positions. Ultimately, the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is the prime place to jumpstart your education and launch your future.
17. Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Score: 87.5
Tuition: $3,188
Graduation Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 59%
Student-Faculty: 15:1
Georgia Piedmont Technical College has been committed to the furthering of education and career training since its founding in 1961. The DeKalb County institution runs over 40 different programs of study, with several various course formats and specialized coursework available. Students have the option of focusing their studies in anything from automotive technology to interdisciplinary studies, or healthcare to electronics, engineering, and technology. There are courses in business administration, design and media production technology, paralegal studies, and much more. At GPTC, the possibilities are endless. All in all, Georgia Piedmont Tech is the best place to jumpstart your future by getting a leg up in the job market and becoming a significant player in the professional sphere.
18. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
Score: 87.5
Tuition: $21,789
Graduation Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 74%
Student-Faculty: 13:1
Since its founding in 1929, the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics has been pushing students to great heights in terms of achievement and academic excellence and technical career training. The school operates two specialized areas of study, aviation maintenance and aviation electronics. Within the maintenance specialty, students learn the art of troubleshooting aircraft equipment such as turbine engines, hydraulics, welding, and more. In the aviation electronics program, students come to master the communications systems, navigation equipment, microprocessors, radar equipment, microwave systems, and much more. These two areas of study ensure students will graduate with marketable skills and a well-developed work ethic that will take them far. Ultimately, the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is the optimal place for anyone interested in cultivating a valuable repertoire for their future.
19. Santa Rosa Junior College
Score: 87
Tuition: $1,324
Graduation Rate: 37%
Retention Rate: 77%
Student-Faculty: 20:1
Since its founding in 1918, Santa Rosa Junior College has been committed to the furthering of postsecondary education and career training within the local northern California community. The school offers a wide variety of different programs that provide students with the skills they need to succeed in their respective fields. A few of the courses focus on the areas of agriculture, interior design, world languages, economics, and many more. These courses are instructed by expert professors that provide hands-on learning opportunities that equip students with valuable real-world experience. With the skills they master in these courses, SRJC graduates go on to pursue professional positions in their fields. Ultimately, Santa Rosa Junior College is the optimal place for students to achieve their goals and find lifelong career success.
20. Ogeechee Technical College
Score: 86.8
Tuition: $3,140
Graduation Rate: 46%
Retention Rate: 58%
Student-Faculty: 14:1
Ogeechee Technical College is one of the foremost institutions for higher learning and career training in the state of Georgia. It has been committed to its mission of preparing students for successful futures through education since its founding in 1987. The school offers 35 different areas of specialization, including criminal justice, sonography, health information management technology, and much more. Professional instructors administer coursework and provide hands-on, real-world learning experiences. Students have access to the materials that they need to succeed and develop skills for the workforce that will give them a competitive edge on the job market and in the field. Ultimately, OTC has everything you need to succeed academically, professionally, and personally throughout your life.
TOP 74 TRADE SCHOOLS
| Rank | Score | School Names | Student to Faculty Ratio | Tuition | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate (4-year) |
| 1 | 100.0 | North Central Kansas Technical College | 10 | $6,398 | 89% | 74% |
| 2 | 99.0 | State Technical College of Missouri | 12 | $6,338 | 85% | 73% |
| 3 | 96.3 | Mitchell Technical Institute | 13 | $6,944 | 81% | 78% |
| 4 | 95.8 | Triangle Tech Inc | 8 | $17,758 | 91% | 84% |
| 5 | 95.5 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | 12 | $4,433 | 69% | 61% |
| 6 | 95.5 | Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College | 9 | $4,704 | 72% | 55% |
| 7 | 91.8 | North Dakota State College of Science | 13 | $5,317 | 72% | 49% |
| 8 | 91.5 | Northwest Iowa Community College | 12 | $6,240 | 69% | 65% |
| 9 | 90.8 | Lake Area Technical Institute | 17 | $5,514 | 81% | 71% |
| 10 | 90.0 | Salina Area Technical College | 12 | $8,315 | 70% | 68% |
| 11 | 89.8 | Northwest Louisiana Technical College | 12 | $2,976 | 49% | 63% |
| 12 | 89.3 | East Valley Institute of Technology | 20 | $5,525 | 89% | 72% |
| 13 | 88.8 | Johnson College | 9 | $19,745 | 74% | 61% |
| 14 | 87.8 | Northeast Community College | 16 | $3,660 | 67% | 48% |
| 15 | 87.8 | Moraine Park Technical College | 16 | $4,440 | 73% | 44% |
| 16 | 87.8 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | 16 | $8,250 | 80% | 67% |
| 17 | 87.5 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College | 15 | $3,188 | 59% | 49% |
| 18 | 87.5 | Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics | 13 | $21,789 | 74% | 70% |
| 19 | 87.0 | Santa Rosa Junior College | 20 | $1,324 | 77% | 37% |
| 20 | 86.8 | Ogeechee Technical College | 14 | $3,140 | 58% | 46% |
| 21 | 86.3 | Northcentral Technical College | 11 | $3,609 | 63% | 31% |
| 22 | 85.3 | Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science | 17 | $23,320 | 97% | 86% |
| 23 | 83.5 | Albany Technical College | 15 | $2,996 | 57% | 40% |
| 24 | 83.5 | Lanier Technical College | 14 | $3,666 | 61% | 38% |
| 25 | 83.5 | Shoreline Community College | 13 | $3,981 | 62% | 35% |
| 26 | 83.3 | Casper College | 13 | $3,834 | 59% | 37% |
| 27 | 82.3 | San Diego Miramar College | 29 | $1,144 | 74% | 38% |
| 28 | 82.5 | City College of San Francisco | 24 | $1,144 | 73% | 38% |
| 29 | 82.3 | Lancaster County Career and Technology Center | 17 | $10,700 | 82% | 60% |
| 30 | 81.5 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College | 19 | $3,062 | 61% | 43% |
| 31 | 81.0 | George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | 16 | $4,800 | 63% | 44% |
| 32 | 81.0 | Ferris State University | 16 | $12,068 | 76% | 49% |
| 33 | 80.0 | Atlanta Technical College | 15 | $3,084 | 55% | 38% |
| 34 | 79.8 | Amarillo College | 20 | $3,168 | 72% | 31% |
| 35 | 79.8 | Asnuntuck Community College | 15 | $4,556 | 61% | 39% |
| 36 | 79.3 | East Mississippi Community College | 19 | $3,540 | 67% | 37% |
| 37 | 79.3 | San Juan College | 15 | $1,546 | 57% | 28% |
| 38 | 79.3 | Lakeshore Technical College | 13 | $6,389 | 59% | 41% |
| 39 | 78.8 | Holmes Community College | 18 | $3,410 | 67% | 35% |
| 40 | 78.3 | Glendale Community College | 26 | $1,175 | 73% | 32% |
| 41 | 78.3 | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture | 15 | $5,347 | 55% | 57% |
| 42 | 77.5 | East Central Community College | 20 | $2,950 | 56% | 43% |
| 43 | 77.8 | Rosedale Technical College | 15 | $15,125 | 60% | 75% |
| 44 | 76.8 | Central New Mexico Community College | 23 | $1,650 | 73% | 27% |
| 45 | 76.5 | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | 18 | $5,846 | 63% | 46% |
| 46 | 76.5 | Center for Employment Training | 16 | $8,350 | 70% | 40% |
| 47 | 76.0 | Dakota County Technical College | 21 | $5,864 | 69% | 48% |
| 48 | 76.0 | Frontier Community College | 24 | $10,056 | 79% | 70% |
| 49 | 74.0 | Lake Land College | 19 | $7,954 | 68% | 44% |
| 50 | 74.0 | Manhattan Area Technical College | 14 | $6,690 | 53% | 47% |
| 51 | 72.8 | Lansing Community College | 11 | $6,930 | 62% | 19% |
| 52 | 71.8 | Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus | 22 | $2,424 | 52% | 41% |
| 53 | 72.0 | Western Wyoming Community College | 13 | $9,870 | 58% | 37% |
| 54 | 71.5 | Bates Technical College | 21 | $6,497 | 62% | 48% |
| 55 | 71.3 | North Idaho College | 13 | $4,960 | 53% | 27% |
| 56 | 70.8 | Sinclair Community College | 16 | $4,089 | 56% | 27% |
| 57 | 70.0 | Elgin Community College | 20 | $10,440 | 79% | 34% |
| 58 | 69.5 | Del Mar College | 14 | $4,275 | 56% | 13% |
| 59 | 68.5 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | 13 | $4,446 | 50% | 17% |
| 60 | 68.5 | College of Lake County | 17 | $9,422 | 70% | 29% |
| 61 | 68.3 | Mt San Antonio College | 24 | $9,610 | 80% | 37% |
| 62 | 68.0 | Columbus State Community College | 19 | $4,588 | 61% | 23% |
| 63 | 64.8 | Ivy Tech Community College | 16 | $4,500 | 51% | 21% |
| 64 | 64.8 | Westmoreland County Community College | 14 | $9,588 | 57% | 22% |
| 65 | 63.3 | Odessa College | 22 | $3,384 | 51% | 30% |
| 66 | 63.3 | Hudson Valley Community College | 20 | $5,962 | 57% | 30% |
| 67 | 63.0 | Chattahoochee Technical College | 22 | $3,120 | 52% | 23% |
| 68 | 62.5 | Waubonsee Community College | 22 | $9,127 | 67% | 31% |
| 69 | 62.5 | College of DuPage | 21 | $9,720 | 72% | 22% |
| 70 | 58.3 | Trident Technical College | 20 | $5,143 | 55% | 14% |
| 71 | 57.8 | Stark State College | 21 | $4,190 | 49% | 19% |
| 72 | 57.8 | St Philip’s College | 20 | $6,690 | 56% | 21% |
| 73 | 54.0 | Joliet Junior College | 22 | $12,570 | 65% | 17% |
| 74 | 50.5 | Austin Community College | 21 | $10,830 | 57% | 10% |
FAQs
What are trade schools for?
Instead of offering a wider educational perspective than colleges, students enrolled in trade schools get laser-targeted education that teaches a skill.
Are trade schools worth it?
Trade schools are educational institutions that put you on the fast-track directly to a career in your chosen field.
