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New Castle School of Trades

New Castle, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school · Training programs available:

CDL / truck driving schoolsElectrician schoolsHVAC schoolsWelding schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsConstruction trades programsDiesel mechanic schoolsCNC & machining programs
76%completion rate · Pennsylvania avg 66%
$9,567median debt of graduates
$41,932median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$44,814median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$15,355annual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (Accredited)
Address: 4117 Pulaksi Road, New Castle, PA 16101 · Phone: (724) 964-8811 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

New Castle School of Trades is a private for-profit trade school in New Castle, Pennsylvania offering CDL/truck driving, electrician, and HVAC training, accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, New Castle School of Trades has a 75.9% completion rate versus a 66.2% state average, median graduate debt of $9,567, and median earnings of $44,814 ten years after entry.

Annual cost of attendance at New Castle School of Trades is $15,355, federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and 62.0% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
New Castle School of … New Castle School of …: 75.9% 75.9% Pennsylvania average Pennsylvania average: 66.2% 66.2% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers$43,560$58,580$65,830
Electricians$45,600$67,600$95,500
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$45,970$62,400$74,620
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$40,510$52,900$61,920
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$35,600$49,800$62,780
Construction laborers$37,480$49,400$61,810
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$45,910$61,740$73,000
Machinists$39,620$57,810$63,700

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Ground Transportation Certificate, under 300 hours 90 $39,955 $36,914 $6,664
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 60 $37,940 $33,993 $11,939
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 48 $29,710 $29,092 $8,758
Ground Transportation Certificate, 1–2 years 46 $39,955 $36,914 $6,664
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 36 $33,654 $32,806 $10,164
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 34 $31,997 $31,133 $11,087
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Associate degree 29 not reported $24,035 not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 17 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 9 $31,997 $31,133 $11,087
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 8 $31,997 $31,133 $11,087
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 5 $42,528 $35,823 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.

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About this school

New Castle School of Trades is a private for-profit trade and career school located in New Castle, Pennsylvania. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and students may use federal financial aid (Title IV) to help pay for their education. The campus offers 11 program families, with the most-enrolled programs being CDL / truck driving (136 students), electrician training (60 students), and HVAC (53 students), alongside other offerings such as welding, auto mechanics, construction trades, diesel mechanics, and CNC machining.

According to federal data, the campus has a completion rate of 75.9%, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,567, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $44,814. The annual cost of attendance is listed at $15,355, and 62.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial portion of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.

This campus, situated in a fringe town locale with roughly 700 undergraduate students, appears geared toward hands-on, shorter-duration trade programs rather than multi-year degrees, which may suit adult learners and career changers seeking a faster path into skilled trades. Program lengths themselves are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

New Castle School of Trades offers 11 program families, with the top programs being CDL / truck driving (136 students), electrician training (60 students), and HVAC (53 students). Other programs include welding, auto mechanics, construction trades, diesel mechanics, and CNC machining.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid, and 62.0% of students receive Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 75.9%, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%, according to federal data.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $9,567, per federal Scorecard data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $44,814.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

The reported annual cost of attendance is $15,355.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

This is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition structure and financial aid eligibility, though it remains Title IV eligible here.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (724) 964-8811 or visit ncstrades.edu for specifics.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at the provided link.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

While the data does not specify program lengths, the range of hands-on trade offerings like welding, HVAC, and CDL training suggests programs oriented toward practical skill-building rather than long academic degrees, which may appeal to career changers; program length and schedule details should be confirmed directly with the school.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach New Castle School of Trades at (724) 964-8811 or through its website at https://www.ncstrades.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

This comparison is not reported in federal data; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?214290 to compare with other schools.

Nearby trade and career schools in Pennsylvania

See all trade and career schools in Pennsylvania 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.

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