Ohio Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in Ohio: 166 trade and vocational campuses (138 trade schools, 28 community colleges) median net price $14,958 (+5.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $37,584 (+7.4% vs U.S.) median completion rate 71.4% employment-outcome proxy 84.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 166 campuses (138 trade schools, 28 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 139,679 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $37,584 (+7.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 84.9% (+4.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,958 (+5.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,731 (+0.3% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $9,500. Debt rank: #27 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #5 in Great Lakes of 5
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 71.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 50.0%
- Earnings rank: #18 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #9 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #27 nationally of 52; #5 in Great Lakes of 5 (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 Ohio include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 166 campuses in this profile (138 trade schools, 28 community colleges), with about 139,679 students enrolled, and median net price near $14,958. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Great Lakes medians.
Ohio 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio (OH) | — | $14,958 | $9,731 | 71.4% | 139,679 |
| Great Lakes (region median) | — | $14,958 | $9,500 | 61.8% | 660,818 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Ohio 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio (OH) | $37,584 | 84.9% | 50.0% | 11.6% | — | 49.2% | 0.32 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Ohio vs peer states (Great Lakes 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio (OH) | N/A | $14,958 | $9,731 | 71.4% | 139,679 | $37,584 | 84.9% |
| Michigan (MI) | N/A | $17,263 | $9,667 | 61.8% | 134,459 | $30,060 | 83.2% |
| Indiana (IN) | N/A | $19,470 | $9,500 | 66.7% | 105,422 | $29,985 | 82.7% |
| Wisconsin (WI) | N/A | $12,912 | $8,854 | 56.9% | 71,683 | $32,393 | 87.0% |
| Illinois (IL) | N/A | $12,278 | $8,375 | 59.5% | 209,575 | $34,867 | 85.0% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Ohio
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 | 60 | $29,130 | 82.9% | N/A | 9.4% | — | 35.1% |
| Private nonprofit | 6 | $55,814 | 86.9% | N/A | 5.0% | — | 61.3% |
| Public | 73 | $40,972 | 87.1% | 50.0% | 12.8% | — | 53.6% |
Top 10 trade schools in Ohio 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, 100.0%, Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District
Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Ohio Institute of Allied Health
Ohio Institute of Allied Health
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Knox County Career Center
Knox County Career Center
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Sandusky Career Center
Sandusky Career Center
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 95.9%, Adult and Community Education-Hudson
Adult and Community Education-Hudson
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 95.8%, Moler-Pickens Beauty Academy
Moler-Pickens Beauty Academy
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 95.8%, EHOVE Career Center
EHOVE Career Center
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 94.2%, Choffin Career and Technical Center
Choffin Career and Technical Center
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 93.0%, Paramount Beauty Academy
Paramount Beauty Academy
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 91.9%, Vantage Career Center
Vantage Career Center
Top 10 trade schools in Ohio 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, 100.0%, Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 94.0%, Tri-Rivers Career Center
Tri-Rivers Career Center
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 93.5%, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center
Mahoning County Career and Technical Center
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 92.9%, Bowling Green State University-Firelands
Bowling Green State University-Firelands
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 92.5%, Hondros College of Nursing
Hondros College of Nursing
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 92.1%, Choffin Career and Technical Center
Choffin Career and Technical Center
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 92.0%, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, Ohio State University-Newark Campus
Ohio State University-Newark Campus
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Top 10 trade schools in Ohio by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $66,542, Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,122, Ohio Medical Career College
Ohio Medical Career College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $53,375, Elite Welding Academy LLC
Elite Welding Academy LLC
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $52,314, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,906, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,438, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,438, Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,438, Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,438, Ohio State University-Newark Campus
Ohio State University-Newark Campus
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $49,514, Tri-Rivers Career Center
Tri-Rivers Career Center
Top 10 trade schools in Ohio by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $66,397, Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $58,643, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $57,674, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,186, Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,186, Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,186, Ohio State University-Newark Campus
Ohio State University-Newark Campus
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,186, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,548, Great Oaks Career Campuses
Great Oaks Career Campuses
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,397, Hondros College of Nursing
Hondros College of Nursing
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,795, Adult and Community Education-Hudson
Adult and Community Education-Hudson
Top 10 trade schools in Ohio by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $77,338, Four County Career Center
Four County Career Center
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $68,723, Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,955, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,409, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,409, Ohio State University-Newark Campus
Ohio State University-Newark Campus
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,409, Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,409, Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,636, Hondros College of Nursing
Hondros College of Nursing
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,645, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,163, Great Oaks Career Campuses
Great Oaks Career Campuses
Top 10 trade schools in Ohio 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, $299,587, Ohio Medical Career College
Ohio Medical Career College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $266,484, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $254,503, Great Oaks Career Campuses
Great Oaks Career Campuses
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $244,742, Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $240,924, Hondros College of Nursing
Hondros College of Nursing
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $240,862, Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ohio University-Southern Campus
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $239,173, Elite Welding Academy LLC
Elite Welding Academy LLC
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $238,563, Adult and Community Education-Hudson
Adult and Community Education-Hudson
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $235,700, Ohio State University-Newark Campus
Ohio State University-Newark Campus
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $232,366, Northern Career Institute
Northern Career Institute
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Ohio (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $1,889, Ohio Business College-Dayton-Driving Academy
Ohio Business College-Dayton-Driving Academy
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Rank 2, Net Price, $5,650, Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
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Rank 3, Net Price, $3,967, Lorain County Community College
Lorain County Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $4,956, Hamrick School
Hamrick School
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Rank 5, Net Price, $4,687, North Central State College
North Central State College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $5,993, Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ohio University-Southern Campus
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Rank 7, Net Price, $9,599, Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus
Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus
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Rank 8, Net Price, $5,992, Sinclair Community College
Sinclair Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $5,994, Ohio State Beauty Academy
Ohio State Beauty Academy
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Rank 10, Net Price, $4,266, Cuyahoga Community College District
Cuyahoga Community College District
Student debt: Ohio vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Ohio is $9,731 (+0.3% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $9,500. Rank: #27 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #5 in Great Lakes of 5.
Median earnings (10 years out): Ohio vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Ohio center around $37,584 (+7.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Ohio vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 84.9% at the median Ohio campus (+4.0 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 $9,731 (+0.3% above the U.S. median of $9,699, and +2.4% vs the Great Lakes regional median of $9,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #27 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #5 in Great Lakes of 5 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Ohio are $37,584, about +7.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 84.9% 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% (+4.0 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 50.0% 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 11.6% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 49.2% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Ohio ranks earnings #18 and employment proxy #9 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing (100.0%), Tri-Rivers Career Center (94.0%), Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (93.5%), Bowling Green State University-Firelands (92.9%), Hondros College of Nursing (92.5%), Choffin Career and Technical Center (92.1%), Butler Technology and Career Development Schools (92.0%), Ohio State University-Newark Campus (91.5%), Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus (91.5%), Ohio State University-Marion Campus (91.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Ohio, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $29,130 (60 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $55,814 (6 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $40,972 (73 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 Ohio is 71.4% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in Ohio?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Ohio, median net price is $14,958 vs $14,215 nationally (+5.2% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Ohio trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Ohio is $9,731 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (Ohio ranks #27 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Ohio?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Ohio trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $37,584 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $34,106.
What share of Ohio 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 84.9% in Ohio vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Ohio?
This profile covers 138 trade schools and 28 community colleges (166 total) in Ohio with roughly 139,679 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Ohio?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 73 public, 6 private nonprofit, and 60 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Ohio?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District; highest 10-year earnings: Four County Career Center; lowest net price among large campuses: Ohio Business College-Dayton-Driving Academy. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Ohio?
Among 281 campuses in Ohio, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Central State University and Wilberforce University; 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Northern Institute of Cosmetology, Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College, and Meryma'at Barber College; 43 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (15), Other Protestant (5), United Methodist (5).
How does Ohio compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Ohio is in the Great Lakes region. Regional median net price is $14,958 and median 10-year earnings are $34,694 vs $14,958 net price and $37,584 earnings in Ohio.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Ohio 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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