Utah Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in Utah: 44 trade and vocational campuses (39 trade schools, 5 community colleges) median net price $16,134 (+13.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $35,032 (+0.1% vs U.S.) median completion rate 83.6% employment-outcome proxy 77.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 44 campuses (39 trade schools, 5 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 128,259 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $35,032 (+0.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 77.5% (-3.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,134 (+13.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,250 (-4.6% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $9,500. Debt rank: #12 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in Rocky Mountains of 5
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 83.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 69.4%
- Earnings rank: #26 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #43 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #12 nationally of 52; #2 in Rocky Mountains 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 Utah include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 44 campuses in this profile (39 trade schools, 5 community colleges), with about 128,259 students enrolled, and median net price near $16,134. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Rocky Mountains medians.
Utah 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah (UT) | — | $16,134 | $9,250 | 83.6% | 128,259 |
| Rocky Mountains (region median) | — | $15,132 | $9,500 | 72.4% | 273,018 |
| United States | — | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Utah 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah (UT) | $35,032 | 77.5% | 69.4% | 5.3% | — | 68.3% | 0.28 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Utah vs peer states (Rocky Mountains 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah (UT) | N/A | $16,134 | $9,250 | 83.6% | 128,259 | $35,032 | 77.5% |
| Colorado (CO) | N/A | $15,132 | $9,500 | 72.4% | 67,707 | $38,868 | 80.3% |
| Idaho (ID) | N/A | $18,788 | $9,500 | 73.4% | 60,428 | $25,945 | 79.2% |
| Wyoming (WY) | N/A | $9,346 | $8,622 | 51.8% | 11,739 | $40,706 | 83.8% |
| Montana (MT) | N/A | $10,405 | $11,000 | 44.7% | 4,885 | $30,528 | 82.6% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Utah
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 | 24 | $28,370 | 74.1% | N/A | 3.7% | — | 56.6% |
| Public | 15 | $41,378 | 84.0% | 70.8% | 6.3% | — | 77.9% |
Top 10 trade schools in Utah 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%, Myotherapy Massage College
Myotherapy Massage College
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Esteem Academy of Beauty
Esteem Academy of Beauty
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 94.9%, Southwest Technical College
Southwest Technical College
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 92.4%, Top Nails & Hair Beauty School
Top Nails & Hair Beauty School
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 92.2%, Medspa Academies
Medspa Academies
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 91.5%, Zion Massage College
Zion Massage College
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 90.7%, Collectiv Academy
Collectiv Academy
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 90.0%, Mandalyn Academy
Mandalyn Academy
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 88.0%, Evans Hairstyling College-St George
Evans Hairstyling College-St George
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 87.9%, Taylor Andrews Academy-St George
Taylor Andrews Academy-St George
Top 10 trade schools in Utah 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, 91.5%, Top Nails & Hair Beauty School
Top Nails & Hair Beauty School
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 87.4%, Cameo College of Essential Beauty
Cameo College of Essential Beauty
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Weber State University
Weber State University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 85.9%, Davis Technical College
Davis Technical College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 85.8%, Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 85.2%, Myotherapy Massage College
Myotherapy Massage College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 85.1%, Bridgerland Technical College
Bridgerland Technical College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 85.0%, Utah State University
Utah State University
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 84.4%, Utah Tech University
Utah Tech University
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 84.3%, Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Utah by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,061, Weber State University
Weber State University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $46,825, Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,822, Utah State University
Utah State University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $43,320, Ensign College
Ensign College
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,916, Davis Technical College
Davis Technical College
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,501, Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,147, Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,738, Dixie Technical College
Dixie Technical College
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,891, Uintah Basin Technical College
Uintah Basin Technical College
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,493, Southwest Technical College
Southwest Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in Utah by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,525, Weber State University
Weber State University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,056, Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,008, Utah State University
Utah State University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,054, Ensign College
Ensign College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,930, Uintah Basin Technical College
Uintah Basin Technical College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,085, Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,450, Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,730, Utah Tech University
Utah Tech University
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,375, Davis Technical College
Davis Technical College
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,006, Bridgerland Technical College
Bridgerland Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in Utah by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,287, Weber State University
Weber State University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,486, Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,022, Utah State University
Utah State University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $50,630, Ensign College
Ensign College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $50,296, Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,867, Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,570, Utah Tech University
Utah Tech University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $41,734, Davis Technical College
Davis Technical College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $41,022, Snow College
Snow College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,347, Bridgerland Technical College
Bridgerland Technical College
Top 10 trade schools in Utah 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, $229,030, Ensign College
Ensign College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $225,906, Weber State University
Weber State University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $211,264, Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $199,969, Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $197,340, Davis Technical College
Davis Technical College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $195,038, Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $191,988, Utah Tech University
Utah Tech University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $191,474, Bridgerland Technical College
Bridgerland Technical College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $183,937, Utah State University
Utah State University
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $178,847, Ogden-Weber Technical College
Ogden-Weber Technical College
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Utah (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $2,338, Bridgerland Technical College
Bridgerland Technical College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $3,229, Ogden-Weber Technical College
Ogden-Weber Technical College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $5,552, Snow College
Snow College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $6,376, Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
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Rank 5, Net Price, $5,955, Evans Hairstyling College-Cedar City
Evans Hairstyling College-Cedar City
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Rank 6, Net Price, $10,462, Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
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Rank 7, Net Price, $9,355, Evans Hairstyling College-St George
Evans Hairstyling College-St George
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Rank 8, Net Price, $10,258, Weber State University
Weber State University
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Rank 9, Net Price, $9,804, Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $10,824, Ensign College
Ensign College
Student debt: Utah vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Utah is $9,250 (-4.6% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $9,500. Rank: #12 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in Rocky Mountains of 5.
Median earnings (10 years out): Utah vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Utah center around $35,032 (+0.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Utah vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 77.5% at the median Utah campus (-3.5 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 $9,250 (-4.6% below the U.S. median of $9,699, and -2.6% vs the Rocky Mountains 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: #12 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in Rocky Mountains of 5 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Utah are $35,032, about +0.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 77.5% 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% (-3.5 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 69.4% 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 5.3% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 68.3% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Utah ranks earnings #26 and employment proxy #43 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Top Nails & Hair Beauty School (91.5%), Cameo College of Essential Beauty (87.4%), Weber State University (87.2%), Davis Technical College (85.9%), Southern Utah University (85.8%), Myotherapy Massage College (85.2%), Bridgerland Technical College (85.1%), Utah State University (85.0%), Utah Tech University (84.4%), Salt Lake Community College (84.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Utah, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $28,370 (24 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $41,378 (15 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 Utah is 83.6% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in Utah?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Utah, median net price is $16,134 vs $14,215 nationally (+13.5% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Utah trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Utah is $9,250 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (Utah ranks #12 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Utah?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Utah trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $35,032 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $29,562.
What share of Utah 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 77.5% in Utah vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Utah?
This profile covers 39 trade schools and 5 community colleges (44 total) in Utah with roughly 128,259 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Utah?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 15 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 24 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Utah?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Myotherapy Massage College; highest 10-year earnings: Weber State University; lowest net price among large campuses: Bridgerland Technical College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Utah?
Among 63 campuses in Utah, 9 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Ogden-Weber Technical College, and Salt Lake Community College; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2).
How does Utah compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Utah is in the Rocky Mountains region. Regional median net price is $15,132 and median 10-year earnings are $36,712 vs $16,134 net price and $35,032 earnings in Utah.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Utah college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON