Massachusetts Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Trade schools in Massachusetts: 54 trade and vocational campuses (38 trade schools, 16 community colleges) median net price $17,050 (+19.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $43,266 (+23.7% vs U.S.) median completion rate 73.7% employment-outcome proxy 13.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 54 campuses (38 trade schools, 16 community colleges)
- Total enrollment: 68,469 students
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $43,266 (+23.7% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 13.1% (-67.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,050 (+19.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-2.1% vs U.S. $9,699); regional median $10,104. Debt rank: #20 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in New England of 6
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 73.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 55.0%
- Earnings rank: #5 nationally (higher median 10-yr earnings = better rank)
- Employment-outcome rank: #49 nationally (higher working share = better rank)
- Student debt rank: #20 nationally of 52; #2 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 Massachusetts include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 54 campuses in this profile (38 trade schools, 16 community colleges), with about 68,469 students enrolled, and median net price near $17,050. 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.
Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (MA) | — | $17,050 | $9,500 | 73.7% | 68,469 |
| 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: Massachusetts 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (MA) | $43,266 | 13.1% | 55.0% | 11.2% | — | 62.7% | 0.22 |
| United States | $34,984 | 80.9% | 64.9% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
Massachusetts 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (MA) | N/A | $17,050 | $9,500 | 73.7% | 68,469 | $43,266 | 13.1% |
| Connecticut (CT) | N/A | $17,469 | $9,833 | 72.0% | 40,930 | $40,014 | 21.2% |
| Maine (ME) | N/A | $10,007 | $10,578 | 48.7% | 14,920 | $41,661 | 10.4% |
| Rhode Island (RI) | N/A | $21,660 | $10,376 | 79.8% | 13,058 | $37,286 | 39.3% |
| New Hampshire (NH) | N/A | $14,804 | $11,000 | 61.5% | 8,533 | $44,700 | 10.9% |
| United States | N/A | $14,215 | $9,699 | 63.3% | 5,490,315 | $34,984 | 80.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Massachusetts
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 | 15 | $30,033 | 10.2% | N/A | 9.6% | — | 59.2% |
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $57,556 | 22.7% | 50.0% | 14.8% | — | 64.8% |
| Public | 20 | $43,266 | 13.3% | 60.0% | 11.3% | — | 66.3% |
Top 10 trade schools in Massachusetts 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%, Greater Lowell Technical School
Greater Lowell Technical School
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 96.0%, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics
Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 90.3%, Rob Roy Academy-Worcester
Rob Roy Academy-Worcester
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 90.0%, North Bennet Street School
North Bennet Street School
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 89.2%, Motoring Technical Training Institute
Motoring Technical Training Institute
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 87.1%, Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth
Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 86.8%, Rob Roy Academy-Fall River
Rob Roy Academy-Fall River
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 84.4%, Jupiter Beauty Academy
Jupiter Beauty Academy
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 82.3%, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 81.4%, COLLECTIV Academy-Worcester
COLLECTIV Academy-Worcester
Top 10 trade schools in Massachusetts 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, 69.4%, Empire Beauty School-Malden
Empire Beauty School-Malden
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 33.7%, North Bennet Street School
North Bennet Street School
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 22.2%, National Aviation Academy of New England
National Aviation Academy of New England
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 18.2%, Springfield Technical Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 17.8%, New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 17.2%, Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 16.4%, Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 16.2%, Holyoke Community College
Holyoke Community College
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 15.2%, Northern Essex Community College
Northern Essex Community College
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 15.2%, Quinsigamond Community College
Quinsigamond Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Massachusetts by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $60,455, National Aviation Academy of New England
National Aviation Academy of New England
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,037, New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $50,583, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,319, North Bennet Street School
North Bennet Street School
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,170, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $43,642, Quincy College
Quincy College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,100, Motoring Technical Training Institute
Motoring Technical Training Institute
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,823, Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,373, North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,318, Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Massachusetts by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,001, National Aviation Academy of New England
National Aviation Academy of New England
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,426, New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,517, North Bennet Street School
North Bennet Street School
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $47,794, Quincy College
Quincy College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,843, Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,369, Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,800, Motoring Technical Training Institute
Motoring Technical Training Institute
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,680, Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,873, Quinsigamond Community College
Quinsigamond Community College
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,774, North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Massachusetts by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $88,084, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $59,009, National Aviation Academy of New England
National Aviation Academy of New England
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,556, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $53,085, New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,654, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,506, Quincy College
Quincy College
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $50,651, Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,281, Motoring Technical Training Institute
Motoring Technical Training Institute
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,618, Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,111, Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College
Top 10 trade schools in Massachusetts 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, $415,258, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $258,373, National Aviation Academy of New England
National Aviation Academy of New England
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $245,300, New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $230,156, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $216,110, Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $207,424, Motoring Technical Training Institute
Motoring Technical Training Institute
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $204,164, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $203,944, Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $202,803, North Bennet Street School
North Bennet Street School
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $198,263, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in Massachusetts (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $2,624, Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $5,547, Bristol Community College
Bristol Community College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $6,046, Northern Essex Community College
Northern Essex Community College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $5,662, Springfield Technical Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $7,931, Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
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Rank 6, Net Price, $7,060, Southeastern Technical Institute
Southeastern Technical Institute
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Rank 7, Net Price, $8,296, Cape Cod Community College
Cape Cod Community College
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Rank 8, Net Price, $7,679, Greenfield Community College
Greenfield Community College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $8,460, Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $7,169, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Student debt: Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Massachusetts is $9,500 (-2.0% vs U.S. median $9,699). Regional median: $10,104. Rank: #20 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in New England of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Massachusetts center around $43,266 (+23.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 13.1% at the median Massachusetts campus (-67.9 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 $9,500 (-2.0% below the U.S. median of $9,699, and -6.0% 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: #20 nationally of 52 (lower debt = better rank); #2 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 Massachusetts are $43,266, about +23.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($34,984).
The median campus reports 13.1% 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% (-67.9 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 55.0% 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 11.2% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 62.7% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, Massachusetts ranks earnings #5 and employment proxy #49 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Empire Beauty School-Malden (69.4%), North Bennet Street School (33.7%), National Aviation Academy of New England (22.2%), Springfield Technical Community College (18.2%), New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts (17.8%), Bunker Hill Community College (17.2%), Roxbury Community College (16.4%), Holyoke Community College (16.2%), Northern Essex Community College (15.2%), Quinsigamond Community College (15.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Massachusetts, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $30,033 (15 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $57,556 (3 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $43,266 (20 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 Massachusetts is 73.7% (national institution average about 63.3%).
FAQ
How much do trade schools cost in Massachusetts?
Among trade schools and community colleges in Massachusetts, median net price is $17,050 vs $14,215 nationally (+19.9% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at Massachusetts trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in Massachusetts is $9,500 vs a U.S. median of $9,699 (Massachusetts ranks #20 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in Massachusetts?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for Massachusetts trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $43,266 vs $34,984 nationally. Six-year medians are $37,504.
What share of Massachusetts 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 13.1% in Massachusetts vs 80.9% nationally.
How many trade schools are in Massachusetts?
This profile covers 38 trade schools and 16 community colleges (54 total) in Massachusetts with roughly 68,469 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in Massachusetts?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 20 public, 3 private nonprofit, and 15 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in Massachusetts?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Greater Lowell Technical School; highest 10-year earnings: Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing; lowest net price among large campuses: Middlesex Community College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in Massachusetts?
Among 145 campuses in Massachusetts, 23 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include American International College, Bay Path University, and Bunker Hill Community College; 17 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (11), Interdenominational (2), Baptist (1).
How does Massachusetts compare to its Census region for trade schools?
Massachusetts is in the New England region. Regional median net price is $17,260 and median 10-year earnings are $41,661 vs $17,050 net price and $43,266 earnings in Massachusetts.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- Massachusetts college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON