Pennsylvania Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Trade schools in Pennsylvania: 149 trade and vocational campuses (131 trade schools, 18 community colleges) median net price $18,088 (+34.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $38,744 (+10.4% vs U.S.) median completion rate 68.5% employment-outcome proxy 82.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in Pennsylvania include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 149 campuses in this profile (131 trade schools, 18 community colleges), with about 109,953 students enrolled, and median net price near $18,088. 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.
Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (PA) | — | $18,088 | $12,000 | 68.5% | 109,953 |
| Mid East (region median) | — | $16,463 | $10,312 | 62.2% | 530,673 |
| United States | — | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $38,744 | 82.6% | 64.7% | 10.0% | — | 54.2% | 0.31 |
| United States | $35,086 | 81.0% | 65.2% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Pennsylvania 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (PA) | N/A | $18,088 | $12,000 | 68.5% | 109,953 | $38,744 | 82.6% |
| New Jersey (NJ) | N/A | $18,708 | $10,500 | 63.9% | 119,348 | $38,020 | 79.7% |
| Maryland (MD) | N/A | $16,286 | $10,124 | 39.8% | 86,668 | $36,748 | 81.6% |
| New York (NY) | N/A | $16,640 | $9,500 | 73.6% | 198,529 | $40,330 | 41.3% |
| Delaware (DE) | N/A | $14,839 | $9,833 | 60.5% | 12,379 | $31,204 | 83.7% |
| United States | N/A | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 | $35,086 | 81.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Pennsylvania
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 | 63 | $30,224 | 79.9% | 64.7% | 11.1% | — | 39.7% |
| Private nonprofit | 16 | $68,569 | 92.0% | 50.0% | 3.9% | — | 73.2% |
| Public | 36 | $45,090 | 84.9% | 80.5% | 9.5% | — | 60.3% |
Top 10 trade schools in Pennsylvania 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%, Eastern Center for Arts and Technology
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 96.2%, Metro Beauty Academy
Metro Beauty Academy
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 94.6%, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 93.9%, Lenape Technical School Practical Nursing Program
Lenape Technical School Practical Nursing Program
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 93.5%, South Hills Beauty Academy
South Hills Beauty Academy
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 91.7%, Altoona Beauty School Inc
Altoona Beauty School Inc
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 91.1%, Beauty Culture School LLC
Beauty Culture School LLC
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 90.9%, The Salon Professional Academy-Altoona
The Salon Professional Academy-Altoona
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 90.9%, Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 90.3%, York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education
York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education
Top 10 trade schools in Pennsylvania 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%, Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 97.7%, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 94.5%, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 93.9%, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 93.5%, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 93.4%, UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 93.2%, Citizens School of Nursing
Citizens School of Nursing
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 92.6%, Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program
Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 92.5%, Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology
Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education
York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education
Top 10 trade schools in Pennsylvania by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $89,418, Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $77,819, St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing
St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $71,955, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $68,303, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $66,816, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $65,501, Citizens School of Nursing
Citizens School of Nursing
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $64,119, DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $62,865, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,692, Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,500, UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
Top 10 trade schools in Pennsylvania by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $92,118, Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $79,815, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $79,785, St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing
St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $78,537, Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $75,957, Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $73,733, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,726, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,382, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $65,198, Citizens School of Nursing
Citizens School of Nursing
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $63,778, UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
Top 10 trade schools in Pennsylvania by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $86,138, Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $80,244, St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing
St Lukes Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $79,831, Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $79,323, Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $74,572, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $70,472, UPMC Jameson School of Nursing
UPMC Jameson School of Nursing
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $69,939, Citizens School of Nursing
Citizens School of Nursing
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $68,801, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $68,337, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $67,327, UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
Top 10 trade schools in Pennsylvania 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, $338,842, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $329,861, Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
Heritage Valley Health System School of Nursing
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $314,816, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $313,253, UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $309,180, Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $305,076, Citizens School of Nursing
Citizens School of Nursing
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $302,380, DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $293,498, UPMC Jameson School of Nursing
UPMC Jameson School of Nursing
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $293,470, UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $273,406, Chester County Intermediate Unit
Chester County Intermediate Unit
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Pennsylvania (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $5,167, Westmoreland County Community College
Westmoreland County Community College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $12,419, Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
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Rank 3, Net Price, $6,389, Bucks County Community College
Bucks County Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $6,200, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $6,797, Schuylkill Technology Center
Schuylkill Technology Center
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Rank 6, Net Price, $6,233, Butler County Community College
Butler County Community College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $6,937, Community College of Beaver County
Community College of Beaver County
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Rank 8, Net Price, $6,576, Delaware County Community College
Delaware County Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $9,228, Reading Area Community College
Reading Area Community College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $9,203, Lehigh Carbon Community College
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Student debt: Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Pennsylvania is $12,000 (+22.6% vs U.S. median $9,792). Regional median: $10,312. Rank: #49 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #5 in Mid East of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Pennsylvania center around $38,744 (+10.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Pennsylvania vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 82.6% at the median Pennsylvania campus (+1.6 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 $12,000 (+22.6% above the U.S. median of $9,792, and +16.4% vs the Mid East regional median of $10,312). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #49 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #5 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 Pennsylvania are $38,744, about +10.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($35,086).
The median campus reports 82.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 81.0% (+1.6 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 64.7% vs a U.S. median of 65.2%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.0% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 54.2% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks earnings #14 and employment proxy #20 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing (100.0%), Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing (97.7%), UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing (94.5%), UPMC Mercy School of Nursing (93.9%), Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences (93.5%), UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing (93.4%), Citizens School of Nursing (93.2%), Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program (92.6%), Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology (92.5%), York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education (91.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Pennsylvania, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $30,224 (63 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $68,569 (16 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $45,090 (36 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 Pennsylvania is 68.5% (national institution average about 61.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do trade schools cost in Pennsylvania?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Pennsylvania, median net price is $18,088 vs $13,448 nationally (+34.5% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Pennsylvania trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Pennsylvania is $12,000 vs a U.S. median of $9,792 (Pennsylvania ranks #49 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Pennsylvania?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Pennsylvania trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $38,744 vs $35,086 nationally. Six-year medians are $36,055.
What share of Pennsylvania 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 82.6% in Pennsylvania vs 81.0% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Pennsylvania?
This profile covers 131 trade schools and 18 community colleges (149 total) in Pennsylvania with roughly 109,953 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Pennsylvania?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 36 public, 16 private nonprofit, and 63 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Pennsylvania?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Eastern Center for Arts and Technology; highest 10-year earnings: Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing; lowest net price among large campuses: Westmoreland County Community College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Pennsylvania?
Among 317 campuses in Pennsylvania, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and Lincoln University; 29 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include The Beauty Institute, Automotive Training Center-Exton, and Empire Beauty School-York; 57 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (28), Presbyterian Church (USA) (5), United Methodist (4).
How does Pennsylvania compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Pennsylvania is in the Mid East region. Regional median net price is $16,463 and median 10-year earnings are $39,140 vs $18,088 net price and $38,744 earnings in Pennsylvania.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Pennsylvania 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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