Before you pay for career training, compare programs by outcomes — not promises.
Explore 9,362 trade, technical and healthcare training campuses using official U.S. Department of Education data. See how many students finish, how much graduates owe, and what they earn after training — so you can make a better-informed choice before you enroll.
Pick a trade
923 campuses · trade median $53,750 HVAC schools
642 campuses · trade median $61,010 Electrician schools
563 campuses · trade median $63,190 Lineman schools
71 campuses · trade median $95,320 Plumbing schools
152 campuses · trade median $63,800 Medical assistant programs
1,390 campuses · trade median $45,690 CNA classes
534 campuses · trade median $42,260 LPN / LVN programs
931 campuses · trade median $64,400 Cosmetology schools
2,515 campuses · trade median $35,790 Barber schools
842 campuses · trade median $38,210 Esthetician schools
858 campuses · trade median $45,330 Nail technician schools
628 campuses · trade median $35,760 CDL / truck driving schools
3,995 campuses · trade median $58,640 Auto mechanic schools
819 campuses · trade median $50,620 Diesel mechanic schools
290 campuses · trade median $61,770 Aviation maintenance (A&P) schools
180 campuses · trade median $79,870 Dental assistant schools
719 campuses · trade median $48,070 Dental hygiene programs
267 campuses · trade median $98,100 Phlebotomy classes
352 campuses · trade median $45,230 Pharmacy technician programs
383 campuses · trade median $45,750 Surgical technologist programs
441 campuses · trade median $64,650 Radiology & sonography programs
652 campuses · trade median $80,110 EMT & paramedic training
682 campuses · trade median $44,470 Medical billing & coding programs
750 campuses · trade median $51,140 Massage therapy schools
529 campuses · trade median $58,450 Culinary & pastry schools
581 campuses · trade median $62,470 CNC & machining programs
430 campuses · trade median $58,750 Heavy equipment operator schools
59 campuses · trade median $59,850 Construction trades programs
461 campuses · trade median $47,120
Changing careers? Compare trades side by side
Median first-year earnings, debt, completion and typical program length for every program group, on one page — compare trades →
Guides
- Trade school or apprenticeship?
- Paying for trade school
- Switching from an office career
- Night, weekend and online programs
- State licensing after the program
Research
Computed from federal data, free to cite:
- The Trade School Accountability Report — which campuses are under an accreditor sanction, and how public, non-profit and for-profit schools compare
- Cost and time-to-earn by trade and state
- AI exposure by trade
- Who licenses trade schools in each state
- The Trade School Outcomes Index — which trades pay best a year out, where graduates owe the least, and state rankings
Trade medians are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for all workers in the occupation (May 2025). Earnings shown are pay only (wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS), not benefits. Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026) and IPEDS; accreditation from DAPIP.