Career Training Path › West Virginia › Carver Career Center
Carver Career Center
Charleston, West Virginia · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 4799 Midland Dr, Charleston, WV 25306 · Phone: (304) 348-1965 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Carver Career Center is a public trade and career school in Charleston, WV offering cosmetology, surgical technology, and barbering programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Carver Career Center has a 92.2% completion rate, above the state average of 68.5%, and median graduate earnings of $33,739 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at Carver Career Center is $9,947, and the school participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), with 73.6% of students receiving Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,580 | $34,480 | $46,340 |
| Surgical technologists | $38,010 | $49,110 | $61,610 |
| Barbers (U.S.) | $28,600 | $38,210 | $58,960 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $36,160 | $48,850 | $60,790 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $40,520 | $61,100 | $82,480 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in West Virginia (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 2–4 years | 40 | $12,506 | $14,010 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 21 | not reported | $31,133 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | $12,506 | $14,010 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Carver Career Center is a public trade and career-training campus located in Charleston, West Virginia. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help pay for training. The campus awards the most credentials in cosmetology, surgical technology, and barbering, with additional offerings in HVAC and culinary programs across five program families total.
Federal data show a completion rate of 92.2%, which is above the state average of 68.5%. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $33,739. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $9,947. About 73.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a large share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 169 undergraduate students and 101 trade completers reported, Carver Career Center operates at a smaller, program-focused scale typical of career centers offering shorter, skills-based training rather than multi-year degrees. This structure can suit adults changing careers who want a compact schedule leading directly into a trade, though specific program lengths are not detailed in this data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the latest completion, debt, and earnings figures before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Carver Career Center offers five program families, most notably cosmetology, surgical technology, and barbering, along with HVAC and culinary programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Carver Career Center is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 92.2%, which is above the West Virginia state average of 68.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $33,739, according to federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is reported as $9,947.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Carver Career Center is a public institution, which often means lower tuition and eligibility for state and federal funding compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school at (304) 348-1965 or visit its website for program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?430795.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus's smaller enrollment and focus on shorter, trade-specific programs like cosmetology and barbering suggests a setting oriented toward direct workforce entry, though individual fit depends on personal goals and schedules not detailed here.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Carver Career Center by phone at (304) 348-1965 or through its website at https://www.carvercareercenter.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons to other schools; use the College Scorecard link to look up nearby institutions offering similar programs.
Other trade and career schools in Charleston, WV
- Charleston School of Beauty CultureCharleston, WV · 70% completion
- Ross Medical Education Center-CharlestonCharleston, WV · 68% completion
- Mountain State School of MassageCharleston, WV · 100% completion
- University of CharlestonCharleston, WV · university
- West Virginia Junior College-CharlestonCross Lanes, WV · 60% completion
- BridgeValley Community and Technical CollegeSouth Charleston, WV
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · 42% completion
- New River Community and Technical CollegeBeaver, WV · 36% completion
See all trade and career schools in West Virginia or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.