New Hampshire Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in New Hampshire: 13 trade and vocational campuses (7 trade schools, 6 community colleges) median net price $14,804 (+4.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $44,700 (+27.8% vs U.S.) median completion rate 61.5% employment-outcome proxy 10.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 13 campuses (7 trade schools, 6 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 8,533 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,700 (+27.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 10.9% (-70.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,804 (+4.1% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $11,000 (+13.4% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $10,104. Debt rank: #47 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in New England of 6
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 61.5%
- Earnings rank: #2 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #51 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #47 nationally of 52; #6 in New England 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 New Hampshire include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 13 campuses in this profile (7 trade schools, 6 community colleges), with about 8,533 students enrolled, and median net price near $14,804. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and New England medians.
New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire (NH) | — | $14,804 | $11,000 | 61.5% | 8,533 |
| New England (region median) | — | $17,260 | $10,104 | 69.3% | 148,935 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire (NH) | $44,700 | 10.9% | N/A | 9.0% | — | 62.2% | 0.31 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
New Hampshire vs peer states (New England 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire (NH) | N/A | $14,804 | $11,000 | 61.5% | 8,533 | $44,700 | 10.9% |
| Rhode Island (RI) | N/A | $21,660 | $10,376 | 79.8% | 13,058 | $37,286 | 39.3% |
| Vermont (VT) | N/A | $24,129 | $8,412 | 66.7% | 3,025 | $36,234 | 13.0% |
| Maine (ME) | N/A | $10,007 | $10,578 | 48.7% | 14,920 | $41,661 | 10.4% |
| Connecticut (CT) | N/A | $17,469 | $9,833 | 72.0% | 40,930 | $40,014 | 21.2% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in New Hampshire
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 | 6 | $33,546 | 8.2% | N/A | 15.1% | — | 38.4% |
| Public | 7 | $46,164 | 12.4% | N/A | 8.8% | — | 69.5% |
Top 10 trade schools in New Hampshire 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, 94.7%, Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth
Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 87.0%, Harmony Health Care Institute
Harmony Health Care Institute
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 83.3%, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 66.7%, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 64.3%, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 61.8%, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 61.5%, Keene Beauty Academy
Keene Beauty Academy
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 46.2%, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 41.3%, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 37.6%, Nashua Community College
Nashua Community College
Top 10 trade schools in New Hampshire 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, 14.4%, Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 13.6%, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 12.8%, Nashua Community College
Nashua Community College
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 12.4%, River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 11.0%, NHTI-Concord's Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 10.8%, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 9.3%, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 8.2%, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 8.2%, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 6.8%, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Top 10 trade schools in New Hampshire by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,421, NHTI-Concord's Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,242, River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,867, Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,161, Nashua Community College
Nashua Community College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,656, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,104, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,629, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,629, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $30,905, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $18,595, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Top 10 trade schools in New Hampshire by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,569, NHTI-Concord's Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,680, Nashua Community College
Nashua Community College
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,604, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,664, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,260, Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,011, River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,365, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $25,048, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $25,048, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $20,254, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Top 9 trade schools in New Hampshire by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,182, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,063, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,943, NHTI-Concord's Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,164, Nashua Community College
Nashua Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,700, River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $42,397, Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $35,037, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $33,546, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $33,546, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Top 10 trade schools in New Hampshire 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, $169,368, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $166,282, NHTI-Concord's Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $164,270, Nashua Community College
Nashua Community College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $154,816, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $148,876, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $146,155, Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $144,320, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $143,672, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $135,570, River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $88,584, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in New Hampshire (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $9,170, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
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Rank 2, Net Price, $10,549, Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett
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Rank 3, Net Price, $11,382, Empire Beauty School-Laconia
Empire Beauty School-Laconia
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Rank 4, Net Price, $13,124, Lakes Region Community College
Lakes Region Community College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $14,027, Keene Beauty Academy
Keene Beauty Academy
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Rank 6, Net Price, $14,143, Manchester Community College
Manchester Community College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $15,474, White Mountains Community College
White Mountains Community College
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Rank 8, Net Price, $15,768, Great Bay Community College
Great Bay Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $14,804, River Valley Community College
River Valley Community College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $18,011, NHTI-Concord's Community College
NHTI-Concord's Community College
Student debt: New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in New Hampshire is $11,000 (+13.4% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $10,104. Rank: #47 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in New England of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in New Hampshire center around $44,700 (+27.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 10.9% at the median New Hampshire campus (-70.1 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 $11,000 (+13.4% above the U.S. median of $9,699, and +8.9% vs the New England regional median of $10,104). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #47 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #6 in New England of 6 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in New Hampshire are $44,700, about +27.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 10.9% 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% (-70.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.0% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 62.2% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, New Hampshire ranks earnings #2 and employment proxy #51 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Great Bay Community College (14.4%), Manchester Community College (13.6%), Nashua Community College (12.8%), River Valley Community College (12.4%), NHTI-Concord's Community College (11.0%), White Mountains Community College (10.8%), Lakes Region Community College (9.3%), Empire Beauty School-Laconia (8.2%), Empire Beauty School-Hooksett (8.2%), Empire Beauty School-Somersworth (6.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within New Hampshire, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $33,546 (6 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $46,164 (7 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 New Hampshire is 61.5% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in New Hampshire?
Among trade schools and community colleges in New Hampshire, median net price is $14,804 vs $14,215 nationally (+4.1% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at New Hampshire trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in New Hampshire is $11,000 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (New Hampshire ranks #47 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in New Hampshire?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for New Hampshire trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $44,700 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $37,880.
What share of New Hampshire 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 10.9% in New Hampshire vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in New Hampshire?
This profile covers 7 trade schools and 6 community colleges (13 total) in New Hampshire with roughly 8,533 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in New Hampshire?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 7 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 6 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in New Hampshire?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth; highest 10-year earnings: Lakes Region Community College; lowest net price among large campuses: Empire Beauty School-Somersworth. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in New Hampshire?
Among 30 campuses in New Hampshire, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Nashua Community College; 4 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (4).
How does New Hampshire compare to its Census region for trade schools?
New Hampshire is in the New England region. Regional median net price is $17,260 and median 10-year earnings are $41,661 vs $14,804 net price and $44,700 earnings in New Hampshire.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- New Hampshire college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON