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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Technical Institute ( WA ) | $47,685 | 6.77 | $3,230 | $25,236 | Pass |
| St. Cloud Technical And Community College ( MN ) * | $44,095 | 1.66 | $734 | $5,735 | Pass |
| Hennepin Technical College ( MN ) * | $42,050 | 1.64 | $690 | $5,391 | Pass |
| Western Technical College ( WI ) * | $41,175 | 1.84 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College ( WI ) * | $39,868 | 1.77 | $707 | $5,524 | Pass |
| Greenville Technical College ( SC ) * | $39,755 | 2.32 | $923 | $7,211 | Pass |
| Midlands Technical College ( SC ) * | $39,661 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| South Central College ( MN ) * | $38,994 | 1.3 | $528 | $4,125 | Pass |
| Iti Technical College ( LA ) ° | $38,697 | 3.56 | $1,481 | $11,571 | Pass |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College ( IA ) * | $38,468 | 1.97 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Wake Technical Community College ( NC ) * | $37,951 | 0.04 | $18 | $141 | Pass |
| Industrial Management & Training Institute ( CT ) ° | $36,894 | 2.91 | $1,096 | $8,563 | Pass |
| Yti Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $36,678 | 3.75 | $1,377 | $10,759 | Pass |
| Salina Area Technical College ( KS ) * | $35,325 | 1.96 | $693 | $5,414 | Pass |
| Renton Technical College ( WA ) * | $34,954 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Rochester Community And Technical College ( MN ) * | $34,861 | 2.21 | $804 | $6,282 | Pass |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College ( KY ) * | $34,630 | 0.82 | $284 | $2,219 | Pass |
| Institute For Business & Technology ( CA ) ° | $34,561 | 4.25 | $1,476 | $11,532 | Pass |
| Warren County Career Center ( OH ) * | $33,892 | 2.37 | $874 | $6,829 | Pass |
| Pittsburgh Technical Institute ( PA ) ° | $33,740 | 3.98 | $1,357 | $10,602 | Pass |
| Central Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $33,459 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Daytona State College ( FL ) * | $32,780 | 0.82 | $269 | $2,102 | Pass |
| Cedar Valley College ( TX ) * | $32,625 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Pickaway Ross County Joint Vocational School District ( OH ) * | $32,456 | 1.18 | $400 | $3,125 | Pass |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College ( GA ) * | $32,148 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Northwest Hvac/R Association & Training ( WA ) | $32,088 | 2.92 | $937 | $7,321 | Pass |
| Northcentral Technical College ( WI ) * | $31,924 | 1.51 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Great Oaks Career Campuses-Scarlet Oaks ( OH ) * | $31,852 | 3.75 | $1,195 | $9,337 | Pass |
| Horry - Georgetown Technical College ( SC ) * | $31,684 | 2.03 | $645 | $5,039 | Pass |
| Washburn University - Topeka ( KS ) * | $31,645 | 2.06 | $652 | $5,094 | Pass |
| Eti School Of Skilled Trades ( IL ) ° | $31,597 | 4.09 | $1,293 | $10,102 | Pass |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces ( NY ) * | $31,464 | 2.67 | $842 | $6,579 | Pass |
| North Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $30,966 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| George C. Wallace State Community College ( AL ) * | $30,789 | 3.25 | $1,001 | $7,821 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Pulaski ( TN ) * | $30,760 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( NE ) ° | $30,644 | 9 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Zone |
| Metropolitan Community College ( MO ) * | $30,627 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Harrisburg Area Community College ( PA ) * | $30,615 | 2.47 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Southwestern Illinois College ( IL ) * | $30,299 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Athens Technical College ( GA ) * | $30,249 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Eastwick College - Nutley Campus ( NJ ) ° | $30,150 | 5.28 | $1,594 | $12,454 | Pass |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College ( NC ) * | $29,975 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| San Jacinto Community College District ( TX ) * | $29,933 | 0 | $1 | $8 | Pass |
| Miller - Motte Technical College ( TN ) ° | $29,527 | 5.96 | $1,760 | $13,751 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Dickson ( TN ) * | $29,436 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Butler Technology And Career Development Schools ( OH ) * | $29,365 | 3.21 | $944 | $7,375 | Pass |
| Hibbing Community College ( MN ) * | $29,294 | 3.71 | $1,338 | $10,454 | Pass |
| Chattahoochee Technical College ( GA ) * | $29,269 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Suny College Of Technology At Canton ( NY ) * | $28,941 | 2.59 | $761 | $5,946 | Pass |
| Pinnacle Career Institute ( MO ) ° | $28,805 | 5.67 | $1,636 | $12,782 | Pass |
| Career College Of Northern Nevada ( NV ) ° | $28,800 | 3.43 | $1,012 | $7,907 | Pass |
| Erwin Technical College ( FL ) * | $28,399 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center ( PA ) * | $28,299 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Branford Hall Career Institute ( CT ) ° | $28,282 | 4.86 | $1,432 | $11,188 | Pass |
| Central New Mexico Community College ( NM ) * | $28,228 | 0.96 | $289 | $2,258 | Pass |
| Brownson Technical School ( CA ) ° | $28,218 | 2.83 | $855 | $6,680 | Pass |
| Franklin Technology Center ( MO ) * | $28,083 | 3.38 | $952 | $7,438 | Pass |
| Washington County Career Center Adult Education ( OH ) * | $27,819 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Coyne College ( IL ) ° | $27,804 | 4.4 | $1,264 | $9,876 | Pass |
| Pennco Tech ( PA ) ° | $27,760 | 6.03 | $1,731 | $13,524 | Pass |
| Orange Technical College - Mid Florida Campus ( FL ) * | $27,743 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Gwinnett Technical College ( GA ) * | $27,716 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Coastal Pines Technical College ( GA ) * | $27,694 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Porter And Chester Institute Of Branford ( CT ) ° | $27,611 | 10.05 | $2,775 | $21,681 | Zone |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College ( GA ) * | $27,263 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Eastland-Fairfield Career And Technical Schools ( OH ) * | $27,100 | 4.7 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Mayfield College ( CA ) ° | $26,900 | 4.8 | $1,318 | $10,298 | Pass |
| Emily Griffith Technical College ( CO ) * | $26,655 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Gateway Community College ( AZ ) * | $26,639 | 1.1 | $322 | $2,516 | Pass |
| West Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $26,574 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Chattanooga State Community College ( TN ) * | $26,520 | 0.9 | $241 | $1,883 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( VA ) ° | $26,479 | 6.6 | $1,750 | $13,673 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( IL ) ° | $26,391 | 10.12 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Zone |
| Ashland County - West Holmes Career Center - Adult Education ( OH ) * | $26,121 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Orleans Technical College ( PA ) | $26,079 | 2.76 | $801 | $6,258 | Pass |
| Eastern Florida State College ( FL ) * | $26,052 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fort Scott Community College ( KS ) * | $26,039 | 1.94 | $540 | $4,219 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( PA ) ° | $26,006 | 4.23 | $1,104 | $8,626 | Pass |
| North Central Kansas Technical College ( KS ) * | $25,920 | 2.87 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Southern Regional Technical College ( GA ) * | $25,646 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Sheridan Technical College ( FL ) * | $25,620 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( IA ) ° | $25,527 | 6.39 | $1,712 | $13,376 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Nashville ( TN ) * | $25,404 | 0.86 | $225 | $1,758 | Pass |
| Atlantic Technical College ( FL ) * | $25,212 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $25,182 | 3.65 | $1,062 | $8,297 | Pass |
| Eti Technical College Of Niles ( OH ) ° | $25,076 | 3.4 | $1,010 | $7,891 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Shelbyville ( TN ) * | $24,935 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( MO ) ° | $24,843 | 10.86 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Zone |
| South Texas College ( TX ) * | $24,822 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Penta County Vocational School ( OH ) * | $24,778 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Ivy Tech Community College Of Indiana ( IN ) * | $24,664 | 0.79 | $197 | $1,539 | Pass |
| Delaware County Community College ( PA ) * | $24,593 | 1.77 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Mid Michigan Community College ( MI ) * | $24,537 | 1.59 | $461 | $3,602 | Pass |
| Pennco Tech ( NJ ) ° | $24,535 | 6.76 | $1,726 | $13,485 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( OH ) ° | $24,225 | 5.33 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Interactive College Of Technology ( GA ) ° | $24,000 | 2.7 | $656 | $5,125 | Pass |
| Moultrie Technical College ( GA ) * | $23,840 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Albany Technical College ( GA ) * | $23,052 | 2.08 | $480 | $3,750 | Pass |
| Augusta Technical College ( GA ) * | $22,831 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( AL ) ° | $22,534 | 4.54 | $1,025 | $8,008 | Pass |
| Bergen County Technical Schools ( NJ ) * | $22,453 | 2.15 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Patrick Henry Community College ( VA ) * | $22,314 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology ( MA ) * | $22,291 | 5.99 | $1,515 | $11,837 | Pass |
| Texas State Technical College ( TX ) * | $22,282 | 0.21 | $53 | $414 | Pass |
| Institute Of Technology ( CA ) ° | $22,195 | 5.42 | $1,339 | $10,462 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Crossville ( TN ) * | $22,042 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Apex Technical School ( NY ) ° | $21,831 | 6.09 | $1,526 | $11,923 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Whiteville ( TN ) * | $21,580 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College ( KS ) * | $21,550 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Metro Technology Centers School District #22 ( OK ) * | $21,541 | 1.73 | $405 | $3,164 | Pass |
| Advanced Technology Institute ( VA ) ° | $21,428 | 8.64 | $1,997 | $15,603 | Pass |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $21,329 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Southern Technical College ( FL ) ° | $20,860 | 6.06 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| All-State Career ( MD ) ° | $20,595 | 5.36 | $1,215 | $9,493 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( MD ) ° | $20,361 | 6.79 | $1,514 | $11,829 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( MD ) ° | $20,107 | 7.15 | $1,540 | $12,032 | Pass |
| Atlanta Technical College ( GA ) * | $20,054 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Mohave Community College ( AZ ) * | $20,037 | 0.56 | $120 | $938 | Pass |
| Midwest Institute ( MO ) ° | $19,496 | 6.13 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Center For Employment Training ( CA ) | $19,467 | 2.27 | $536 | $4,188 | Pass |
| Santa Fe College ( FL ) * | $19,338 | 3.77 | $833 | $6,508 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( PA ) ° | $19,064 | 8.42 | $1,730 | $13,516 | Zone |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Morristown ( TN ) * | $18,853 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $18,828 | 6.14 | $1,355 | $10,587 | Pass |
| Capstone College ( CA ) ° | $18,726 | 3.96 | $815 | $6,368 | Pass |
| Kaskaskia College ( IL ) * | $18,685 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Ayers Career College ( LA ) ° | $18,679 | 6.29 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Remington College ( TX ) | $17,618 | 6.55 | $1,283 | $10,024 | Pass |
| North American Trade Schools ( MD ) ° | $16,845 | 5.88 | $1,180 | $9,219 | Pass |
| Indian Capital Technology Center, School District Number 4 ( OK ) * | $16,773 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tidewater Tech ( VA ) ° | $16,504 | 10.18 | $2,036 | $15,907 | Zone |
| Centura College ( SC ) ° | $16,356 | 11.15 | $2,036 | $15,907 | Zone |
| Lincoln Technical Institute ( NJ ) ° | $15,625 | 14.7 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Fail |
| Brightwood College ( OH ) ° | $15,534 | 9.86 | $1,763 | $13,774 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Jackson ( TN ) * | $14,568 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Mckenzie ( TN ) * | $14,359 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| All-State Career School ( PA ) ° | $13,894 | 7.8 | $1,581 | $12,352 | Pass |
| Withlacoochee Technical College ( FL ) * | $12,762 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Florida State College At Jacksonville ( FL ) * | $12,724 | 1.41 | $241 | $1,883 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Memphis ( TN ) * | $11,802 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( AL ) ° | $11,800 | 10.28 | $1,749 | $13,665 | Zone |
| Charles A. Jones Skills And Business Education Center ( CA ) * | $11,333 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |