The Washington Monthly is the first and only publication to rank America’s best colleges for vocational certificates. To build the rankings, we pulled numbers for the twelve most common undergraduate certificate programs from the U.S. Department of Education’s new “gainful employment” database. For each program, we rank colleges according to the median earnings of their students three years after graduation. For informational purposes, we also show the median debt-to-earnings ratios, annual debt payments, estimated total debt, and outcome under the federal government’s gainful employment criteria—pass, at risk (“zone”), or fail.
Click here for a more detailed explanation, here for all of our other rankings, and here to download the full vocational certificate data set.
| Name | Median annual earnings | Annual debt payments as % of earnings | Annual debt payments | Estimated total debt | Gainful employment outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State College Of Science ( ND ) * | $37,834 | 2.12 | $805 | $6,289 | Pass |
| Santa Fe College ( FL ) * | $34,345 | 1.4 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Monroe Community College ( NY ) * | $33,657 | 1.42 | $479 | $3,742 | Pass |
| Dakota County Technical College ( MN ) * | $32,537 | 2.92 | $952 | $7,438 | Pass |
| Camden County College ( NJ ) * | $32,197 | 1.75 | $566 | $4,422 | Pass |
| Des Moines Area Community College ( IA ) * | $32,019 | 2.37 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Nhti - Concord'S Community College ( NH ) * | $31,445 | 3.36 | $1,066 | $8,329 | Pass |
| Century College ( MN ) * | $30,930 | 3.09 | $981 | $7,665 | Pass |
| Guilford Technical Community College ( NC ) * | $30,880 | 0.23 | $73 | $570 | Pass |
| Trident Technical College ( SC ) * | $30,478 | 3.47 | $1,058 | $8,266 | Pass |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College ( WI ) * | $30,166 | 1.14 | $354 | $2,766 | Pass |
| University Of Maine - Augusta ( ME ) * | $30,103 | 1.94 | $621 | $4,852 | Pass |
| Iowa Western Community College ( IA ) * | $29,983 | 3.11 | $964 | $7,532 | Pass |
| Southeast Community College ( NE ) * | $29,960 | 2.2 | $662 | $5,172 | Pass |
| Northern Essex Community College ( MA ) * | $29,524 | 1.33 | $393 | $3,071 | Pass |
| Herzing University ( WI ) ° | $28,988 | 7.72 | $2,238 | $17,485 | Pass |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College ( NC ) * | $28,869 | 1.22 | $353 | $2,758 | Pass |
| Renton Technical College ( WA ) * | $28,783 | 1.46 | $422 | $3,297 | Pass |
| Linn-Benton Community College ( OR ) * | $28,592 | 2.1 | $603 | $4,711 | Pass |
| University Of North Carolina - Chapel Hill ( NC ) * | $28,237 | 3.57 | $1,010 | $7,891 | Pass |
| Portland Community College ( OR ) * | $27,961 | 2.69 | $754 | $5,891 | Pass |
| Greenville Technical College ( SC ) * | $27,914 | 2.68 | $756 | $5,907 | Pass |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ( WI ) * | $27,714 | 2.7 | $750 | $5,860 | Pass |
| Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis ( IN ) * | $27,613 | 3.15 | $870 | $6,797 | Pass |
| Marshalltown Community College ( IA ) * | $27,601 | 2.74 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School ( MA ) * | $27,303 | 2.77 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College ( IA ) * | $27,296 | 2.26 | $618 | $4,828 | Pass |
| Alamance Community College ( NC ) * | $27,291 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Minneapolis Community And Technical College ( MN ) * | $27,187 | 1.73 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Western Technical College ( WI ) * | $26,794 | 2.83 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Gulf Coast State College ( FL ) * | $26,582 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Hibbing Community College ( MN ) * | $26,530 | 2.86 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Lane Community College ( OR ) * | $26,486 | 7.26 | $1,924 | $15,032 | Pass |
| Gwinnett Technical College ( GA ) * | $26,404 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Porter And Chester Institute Of Branford ( CT ) ° | $26,284 | 6.28 | $1,653 | $12,915 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( OR ) ° | $26,267 | 4.76 | $1,252 | $9,782 | Pass |
| Central Lakes College ( MN ) * | $25,951 | 1.85 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| College Of Health Care Professions (The) ( TX ) ° | $25,842 | 4.06 | $1,051 | $8,211 | Pass |
| Waukesha County Technical College ( WI ) * | $25,824 | 1.85 | $479 | $3,742 | Pass |
| Hudson Valley Community College ( NY ) * | $25,724 | 2.41 | $621 | $4,852 | Pass |
| Chemeketa Community College ( OR ) * | $25,708 | 2.33 | $600 | $4,688 | Pass |
| Blake Austin College ( CA ) ° | $25,597 | 4.97 | $1,273 | $9,946 | Pass |
| Flint Hills Technical College ( KS ) * | $25,243 | 2.24 | $595 | $4,649 | Pass |
| Indiana University - Purdue University - Ft Wayne ( IN ) * | $25,032 | 5.2 | $1,317 | $10,290 | Pass |
| Charlotte Technical Center ( FL ) * | $25,027 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Clackamas Community College ( OR ) * | $25,002 | 1.87 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Ivy Tech Community College Of Indiana ( IN ) * | $24,933 | 1.98 | $494 | $3,860 | Pass |
| Fox Valley Technical College ( WI ) * | $24,733 | 1.94 | $481 | $3,758 | Pass |
| Lancaster County Career And Technology Center ( PA ) * | $24,393 | 3.11 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Eastern Florida State College ( FL ) * | $24,392 | 1.98 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Pulaski Technical College ( AR ) * | $24,338 | 2.83 | $690 | $5,391 | Pass |
| Hinds Community College ( MS ) * | $24,313 | 0.99 | $243 | $1,899 | Pass |
| Augusta Technical College ( GA ) * | $23,642 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Concorde Career Institute ( FL ) ° | $23,614 | 4.88 | $1,153 | $9,008 | Pass |
| San Jose City College ( CA ) * | $23,588 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Arizona College ( AZ ) ° | $23,545 | 5.56 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Savannah Technical College ( GA ) * | $23,480 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Salina Area Technical College ( KS ) * | $23,428 | 2.64 | $619 | $4,836 | Pass |
| Seattle Central College ( WA ) * | $23,384 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Wichita Area Technical College ( KS ) * | $23,351 | 2.69 | $629 | $4,914 | Pass |
| Central Career School ( NJ ) ° | $23,322 | 3.25 | $758 | $5,922 | Pass |
| Chattanooga State Community College ( TN ) * | $23,230 | 2.29 | $535 | $4,180 | Pass |
| Ross Medical Education Center ( OH ) ° | $23,184 | 5.65 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Kaplan University ( IA ) ° | $23,154 | 4.13 | $957 | $7,477 | Pass |
| Bellingham Technical College ( WA ) * | $22,647 | 2.18 | $494 | $3,860 | Pass |
| Ata College ( KY ) ° | $22,626 | 8.21 | $1,858 | $14,517 | Zone |
| Milan Institute ( CA ) ° | $22,505 | 5.82 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Polaris Career Center - Adult Education Department ( OH ) * | $22,358 | 1.54 | $345 | $2,695 | Pass |
| Great Lakes Institute Of Technology ( PA ) ° | $22,286 | 5.15 | $1,148 | $8,969 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro ( TN ) * | $22,227 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Porter And Chester Institute ( CT ) ° | $22,206 | 7.58 | $1,684 | $13,157 | Pass |
| Seacoast Career Schools ( ME ) ° | $22,187 | 4.29 | $952 | $7,438 | Pass |
| Everest College ( WA ) | $22,108 | 5.92 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Ohio Business College ( OH ) ° | $22,001 | 5.77 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ( WI ) * | $21,958 | 1.09 | $241 | $1,883 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( NJ ) ° | $21,753 | 6.3 | $1,416 | $11,063 | Pass |
| Yti Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $21,650 | 6.43 | $1,393 | $10,884 | Pass |
| Carrington College ( CA ) ° | $21,555 | 7.57 | $1,632 | $12,751 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( MD ) ° | $21,542 | 5.55 | $1,197 | $9,352 | Pass |
| Monroe 2 - Orleans Boces, Center For Workforce Development ( NY ) * | $21,491 | 2.48 | $533 | $4,164 | Pass |
| Central Oregon Community College ( OR ) * | $21,491 | 3.39 | $730 | $5,703 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $21,415 | 6.12 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( CA ) ° | $21,402 | 5.53 | $1,184 | $9,251 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( FL ) ° | $21,363 | 5.03 | $1,075 | $8,399 | Pass |
| Missouri College ( MO ) ° | $21,195 | 9.6 | $2,036 | $15,907 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( TX ) ° | $21,181 | 6.09 | $1,290 | $10,079 | Pass |
| Carrington College ( OR ) ° | $21,137 | 5.5 | $1,164 | $9,094 | Pass |
| Texas State Technical College Harlingen ( TX ) * | $21,130 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( FL ) ° | $21,130 | 5.36 | $1,133 | $8,852 | Pass |
| New York School For Medical & Dental Assistants ( NY ) ° | $21,096 | 5.63 | $1,214 | $9,485 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( CO ) ° | $21,066 | 5.83 | $1,229 | $9,602 | Pass |
| Medical Training College ( LA ) ° | $20,927 | 3.05 | $639 | $4,993 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Memphis ( TN ) * | $20,783 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Daymar Institute ( TN ) ° | $20,780 | 8.57 | $1,782 | $13,923 | Zone |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College ( GA ) * | $20,504 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Lincoln Technical Institute ( FL ) ° | $20,493 | 6.39 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces ( NY ) * | $20,407 | 4.32 | $883 | $6,899 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $20,281 | 6.46 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Albany Technical College ( GA ) * | $20,261 | 0.4 | $82 | $641 | Pass |
| Pima Medical Institute ( AZ ) ° | $20,201 | 5.12 | $1,035 | $8,086 | Pass |
| Career Training Academy ( PA ) ° | $20,195 | 3.6 | $728 | $5,688 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $20,158 | 3.51 | $709 | $5,539 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( OH ) ° | $20,050 | 7.45 | $1,494 | $11,673 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( NE ) ° | $20,038 | 13.77 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Fail |
| Concorde Career College ( CA ) ° | $19,919 | 6.06 | $1,208 | $9,438 | Pass |
| Miller - Motte Technical College ( TN ) ° | $19,815 | 7.71 | $1,553 | $12,134 | Pass |
| Eagle Gate College ( UT ) ° | $19,785 | 9.88 | $1,956 | $15,282 | Zone |
| Charter College ( WA ) ° | $19,760 | 7.09 | $1,401 | $10,946 | Pass |
| Ross Medical Education Center ( MI ) ° | $19,760 | 6.63 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( MO ) ° | $19,693 | 6.11 | $1,204 | $9,407 | Pass |
| Everest College ( IL ) | $19,655 | 7.4 | $1,456 | $11,376 | Pass |
| Remington College ( TX ) | $19,590 | 6.39 | $1,252 | $9,782 | Pass |
| Northwest Career College ( NV ) ° | $19,446 | 5.8 | $1,128 | $8,813 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( MO ) ° | $19,426 | 9.55 | $1,857 | $14,509 | Zone |
| Indiana University - Northwest ( IN ) * | $19,391 | 5.36 | $1,157 | $9,040 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TN ) ° | $19,349 | 4.92 | $952 | $7,438 | Pass |
| Sanford-Brown College ( FL ) ° | $19,319 | 9.65 | $1,866 | $14,579 | Zone |
| Carrington College ( AZ ) ° | $19,307 | 6.59 | $1,274 | $9,954 | Pass |
| Chattanooga College - Medical, Dental And Technical Careers ( TN ) ° | $19,233 | 9.9 | $1,944 | $15,188 | Zone |
| Emily Griffith Technical College ( CO ) * | $19,157 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Ross Medical Education Center ( MI ) ° | $19,068 | 6.87 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Midwest Technical Institute ( IL ) ° | $19,066 | 5.91 | $1,127 | $8,805 | Pass |
| Milan Institute ( CA ) ° | $19,057 | 6.87 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| College Of Health Care Professions (The) ( TX ) ° | $19,054 | 5.48 | $1,045 | $8,165 | Pass |
| Ross Medical Education Center ( MI ) ° | $18,969 | 6.91 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Career Care Institute ( CA ) ° | $18,951 | 5.47 | $1,038 | $8,110 | Pass |
| Choffin Career & Technical Center ( OH ) * | $18,896 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Community Care College ( OK ) ° | $18,858 | 5.88 | $1,109 | $8,665 | Pass |
| Sanford-Brown College ( TX ) ° | $18,641 | 7.3 | $1,361 | $10,633 | Pass |
| Eastland-Fairfield Career And Technical Schools ( OH ) * | $18,604 | 6.37 | $1,224 | $9,563 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $18,554 | 7.31 | $1,358 | $10,610 | Pass |
| Lincoln Technical Institute ( NJ ) ° | $18,546 | 8.77 | $1,627 | $12,712 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $18,507 | 7.12 | $1,319 | $10,305 | Pass |
| Everest College ( UT ) ° | $18,504 | 7.16 | $1,326 | $10,360 | Pass |
| Texas State Technical College ( TX ) * | $18,473 | 3.42 | $637 | $4,977 | Pass |
| All-State Career ( MD ) ° | $18,375 | 5.02 | $923 | $7,211 | Pass |
| Lamar State College - Orange ( TX ) * | $18,287 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $18,280 | 6.6 | $1,207 | $9,430 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( OH ) ° | $18,231 | 8.72 | $1,590 | $12,423 | Pass |
| Ross Medical Education Center ( MI ) ° | $18,182 | 7.18 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Vista College ( TX ) ° | $18,176 | 7.21 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Brookline College ( AZ ) ° | $18,161 | 7.19 | $1,353 | $10,571 | Pass |
| Concorde Career Institute ( FL ) ° | $18,092 | 6.88 | $1,245 | $9,727 | Pass |
| Dawn Career Institute ( DE ) ° | $18,049 | 5.31 | $960 | $7,500 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( AL ) ° | $18,016 | 5.04 | $909 | $7,102 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( TN ) ° | $17,985 | 6.43 | $1,157 | $9,040 | Pass |
| All-State Career School ( PA ) ° | $17,656 | 8.15 | $1,503 | $11,743 | Zone |
| American Career College ( CA ) ° | $17,626 | 7.43 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Intellitec College ( CO ) ° | $17,568 | 7.95 | $1,397 | $10,915 | Pass |
| Le Cordon Bleu College Of Culinary Arts ( CA ) ° | $17,525 | 10.32 | $1,842 | $14,392 | Zone |
| Concorde Career College ( CA ) ° | $17,418 | 7.49 | $1,306 | $10,204 | Pass |
| Midwest Institute ( MO ) ° | $17,352 | 7.18 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Yti Career Institute - Altoona ( PA ) ° | $17,287 | 7.39 | $1,286 | $10,048 | Pass |
| Delta College Of Arts & Technology ( LA ) ° | $17,242 | 3.53 | $609 | $4,758 | Pass |
| Madison Adult Career Center ( OH ) * | $17,229 | 0.4 | $69 | $539 | Pass |
| Ibmc College ( CO ) ° | $17,204 | 8.2 | $1,411 | $11,024 | Pass |
| Lawson State Community College ( AL ) * | $17,125 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $17,085 | 7.67 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| North-West College ( CA ) ° | $16,995 | 5.27 | $897 | $7,008 | Pass |
| Orange Coast College ( CA ) * | $16,973 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( OH ) ° | $16,939 | 7.65 | $1,296 | $10,126 | Pass |
| Ultimate Medical Academy ( FL ) | $16,902 | 7.43 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( MI ) | $16,710 | 8.73 | $1,476 | $11,532 | Zone |
| Concorde Career Institute ( FL ) ° | $16,663 | 7.17 | $1,202 | $9,391 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( PA ) ° | $16,521 | 9.53 | $1,656 | $12,938 | Zone |
| Everest College ( CO ) | $16,459 | 7.56 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Delta College ( LA ) ° | $16,374 | 4.12 | $687 | $5,368 | Pass |
| Reedley College ( CA ) * | $16,340 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Eastern College Of Health Vocations ( AR ) ° | $16,337 | 2.43 | $397 | $3,102 | Pass |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute ( TX ) ° | $16,313 | 7.82 | $1,317 | $10,290 | Pass |
| Atlanta Technical College ( GA ) * | $16,310 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Cleveland Institute Of Dental - Medical Assistants ( OH ) ° | $16,236 | 7.76 | $1,346 | $10,516 | Pass |
| Provo College ( UT ) ° | $16,231 | 9.11 | $1,480 | $11,563 | Pass |
| Blue Cliff College ( LA ) ° | $16,200 | 8.42 | $1,365 | $10,665 | Zone |
| Everest University ( FL ) | $16,107 | 8.72 | $1,420 | $11,094 | Zone |
| Harris School Of Business ( DE ) ° | $16,086 | 5.21 | $905 | $7,071 | Pass |
| North-West College ( CA ) ° | $16,067 | 5.56 | $894 | $6,985 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $16,067 | 7.71 | $1,265 | $9,883 | Pass |
| American Career College ( CA ) ° | $15,803 | 8.29 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Brightwood College ( IN ) ° | $15,597 | 7.78 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Everest College ( CO ) | $15,578 | 8.41 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $15,470 | 7.77 | $1,241 | $9,696 | Pass |
| Delta School Of Business And Technology ( LA ) ° | $15,397 | 6.96 | $1,073 | $8,383 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( TX ) | $15,271 | 9.49 | $1,520 | $11,876 | Zone |
| Concorde Career College ( CA ) ° | $15,141 | 8.37 | $1,268 | $9,907 | Pass |
| Carrington College ( ID ) ° | $14,969 | 7.47 | $1,209 | $9,446 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $14,922 | 5.88 | $912 | $7,125 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $14,712 | 7.76 | $1,275 | $9,962 | Pass |
| Centura College ( VA ) ° | $14,695 | 7.98 | $1,312 | $10,251 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $14,643 | 8.18 | $1,243 | $9,712 | Zone |
| Charter College ( CA ) ° | $14,606 | 8.95 | $1,368 | $10,688 | Zone |
| Everest College ( MO ) | $14,392 | 10.79 | $1,553 | $12,134 | Zone |
| Everest College ( VA ) | $14,078 | 10.32 | $1,631 | $12,743 | Zone |
| Mount Diablo Adult Education ( CA ) * | $13,869 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Compu-Med Vocational Careers ( FL ) ° | $13,835 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Florida National University ( FL ) ° | $13,761 | 5.06 | $776 | $6,063 | Pass |
| Le Cordon Bleu College Of Culinary Arts ( TX ) ° | $13,566 | 13.65 | $1,852 | $14,470 | Fail |
| Unitech Training Academy ( LA ) ° | $13,497 | 2.94 | $398 | $3,110 | Pass |
| Pci College ( CA ) ° | $13,138 | 5.2 | $738 | $5,766 | Pass |
| Harris School Of Business ( NJ ) ° | $12,057 | 1.72 | $221 | $1,727 | Pass |
| National Polytechnic College ( CA ) ° | $11,744 | 8.38 | $1,159 | $9,055 | Zone |
| Bridgerland Applied Technology College ( UT ) * | $11,262 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Summit College ( CA ) ° | $10,210 | 8.78 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Washington County Adult Skill Center ( VA ) * | $9,712 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Uei College ( CA ) ° | $9,146 | 11.25 | $1,322 | $10,329 | Zone |