District of Columbia Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in District of Columbia: 6 trade and vocational campuses (5 trade schools, 1 community colleges) median net price $17,528 (+23.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $26,398 (-24.6% vs U.S.) median completion rate 51.0% employment-outcome proxy 78.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 6 campuses (5 trade schools, 1 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 4,028 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $26,398 (-24.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 78.0% (-2.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,528 (+23.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $7,917 (-18.4% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $9,833. Debt rank: #2 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #1 in Mid East of 6
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 51.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 67.6%
- Earnings rank: #50 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #42 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 52; #1 in Mid East of 6 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in District of Columbia include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 6 campuses in this profile (5 trade schools, 1 community colleges), with about 4,028 students enrolled, and median net price near $17,528. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Mid East medians.
District of Columbia vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (DC) | — | $17,528 | $7,917 | 51.0% | 4,028 |
| Mid East (region median) | — | $16,938 | $9,833 | 62.2% | 538,130 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (DC) | $26,398 | 78.0% | 67.6% | 16.0% | — | 25.7% | 0.29 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
District of Columbia vs peer states (Mid East region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (DC) | N/A | $17,528 | $7,917 | 51.0% | 4,028 | $26,398 | 78.0% |
| Delaware (DE) | N/A | $14,839 | $9,833 | 60.5% | 12,379 | $31,204 | 83.7% |
| Maryland (MD) | N/A | $16,286 | $9,833 | 40.0% | 86,706 | $36,748 | 81.6% |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | N/A | $17,864 | $12,000 | 69.6% | 110,631 | $38,744 | 82.6% |
| New Jersey (NJ) | N/A | $18,708 | $10,500 | 63.9% | 119,348 | $38,020 | 79.7% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in District of Columbia
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 4 | $22,568 | 76.3% | N/A | 16.2% | — | 24.1% |
Top 4 trade schools in District of Columbia by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 83.3%, Saint Michael College of Allied Health
Saint Michael College of Allied Health
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 69.1%, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 51.0%, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 50.7%, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
Top 4 trade schools in District of Columbia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 82.8%, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 79.7%, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 76.3%, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 74.5%, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
Top 5 trade schools in District of Columbia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $66,681, Saint Michael College of Allied Health
Saint Michael College of Allied Health
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,358, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $29,764, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $20,259, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $18,653, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
Top 4 trade schools in District of Columbia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,032, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,775, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $27,405, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $20,324, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
Top 4 trade schools in District of Columbia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,236, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $30,227, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $22,568, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $20,809, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
Top 5 trade schools in District of Columbia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $293,706, Saint Michael College of Allied Health
Saint Michael College of Allied Health
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $127,490, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $117,258, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $110,619, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $91,372, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
Top 5 most affordable trade schools in District of Columbia (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $10,648, University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
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Rank 2, Net Price, $11,824, Bennett Career Institute
Bennett Career Institute
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Rank 3, Net Price, $17,528, The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC
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Rank 4, Net Price, $20,985, Career Technical Institute
Career Technical Institute
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Rank 5, Net Price, $38,751, Saint Michael College of Allied Health
Saint Michael College of Allied Health
Student debt: District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in District of Columbia is $7,917 (-18.4% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $9,833. Rank: #2 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #1 in Mid East of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in District of Columbia center around $26,398 (-24.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: District of Columbia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 78.0% at the median District of Columbia campus (-2.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Median graduate debt is $7,917 (-18.4% below the U.S. median of $9,699, and -19.5% vs the Mid East regional median of $9,833). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #1 in Mid East of 6 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in District of Columbia are $26,398, about -24.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 78.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 80.9% (-2.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 67.6% vs a U.S. median of 64.9%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 16.0% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 25.7% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, District of Columbia ranks earnings #50 and employment proxy #42 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include The Salon Professional Academy-Washington DC (82.8%), University of the District of Columbia (79.7%), Bennett Career Institute (76.3%), Career Technical Institute (74.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within District of Columbia, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $22,568 (4 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in District of Columbia is 51.0% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in District of Columbia?
Among trade schools and community colleges in District of Columbia, median net price is $17,528 vs $14,215 nationally (+23.3% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at District of Columbia trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in District of Columbia is $7,917 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (District of Columbia ranks #2 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in District of Columbia?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for District of Columbia trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $26,398 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $29,764.
What share of District of Columbia trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 78.0% in District of Columbia vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in District of Columbia?
This profile covers 5 trade schools and 1 community colleges (6 total) in District of Columbia with roughly 4,028 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in District of Columbia?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 0 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 4 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in District of Columbia?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Saint Michael College of Allied Health; highest 10-year earnings: University of the District of Columbia; lowest net price among large campuses: University of the District of Columbia. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in District of Columbia?
Among 25 campuses in District of Columbia, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including University of the District of Columbia and Howard University; 4 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include University of the District of Columbia, Gallaudet University, and Trinity Washington University; 7 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (5), United Methodist (2).
How does District of Columbia compare to its Census region for trade schools?
District of Columbia is in the Mid East region. Regional median net price is $16,938 and median 10-year earnings are $38,899 vs $17,528 net price and $26,398 earnings in District of Columbia.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- District of Columbia college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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