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 pct of earnings | Annual debt payments | Estimated total debt | Gainful employment outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus State Community College ( OH ) * | $35,250 | 2.09 | $740 | $5,782 | Pass |
| Renton Technical College ( WA ) * | $31,711 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Anoka Technical College ( MN ) * | $30,806 | 2.7 | $948 | $7,407 | Pass |
| Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College ( MN ) * | $28,820 | 0.55 | $159 | $1,242 | Pass |
| Northland Community And Technical College ( MN ) * | $28,782 | 2.16 | $624 | $4,875 | Pass |
| Alexandria Technical And Community College ( MN ) * | $28,492 | 3.1 | $885 | $6,915 | Pass |
| Everest College ( CO ) | $28,371 | 5.16 | $1,466 | $11,454 | Pass |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ( WI ) * | $28,198 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Minnesota West Community And Technical College ( MN ) * | $27,864 | 2.23 | $622 | $4,860 | Pass |
| Baker College ( MI ) | $27,745 | 4.58 | $1,271 | $9,930 | Pass |
| Rasmussen College ( MN ) ° | $27,426 | 9 | $2,471 | $19,306 | Pass |
| Northcentral Technical College ( WI ) * | $27,405 | 1.12 | $309 | $2,414 | Pass |
| Branford Hall Career Institute ( CT ) ° | $26,726 | 4.43 | $1,186 | $9,266 | Pass |
| Nashville College Of Medical Careers ( TN ) ° | $26,302 | 4.36 | $1,148 | $8,969 | Pass |
| Southeastern Institute ( NC ) ° | $25,995 | 5.56 | $1,446 | $11,298 | Pass |
| Reading Area Community College ( PA ) * | $25,964 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Spencerian College ( KY ) ° | $25,641 | 7.82 | $2,006 | $15,673 | Pass |
| Clark College ( WA ) * | $25,525 | 0.5 | $128 | $1,000 | Pass |
| Northeast Community College ( NE ) * | $25,205 | 2.03 | $512 | $4,000 | Pass |
| Penn Commercial Business/Technical School ( PA ) ° | $25,194 | 8.92 | $2,248 | $17,564 | Zone |
| Brightwood College ( NV ) ° | $25,181 | 4.88 | $1,230 | $9,610 | Pass |
| School Of Communication Arts Of North Carolina ( NC ) ° | $25,102 | 6.67 | $1,676 | $13,095 | Pass |
| Indian Hills Community College ( IA ) * | $25,093 | 3.44 | $865 | $6,758 | Pass |
| Springfield Technical Community College ( MA ) * | $24,945 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| National American University ( SD ) ° | $24,608 | 9.57 | $2,357 | $18,415 | Zone |
| Seacoast Career Schools ( ME ) ° | $24,277 | 5.11 | $1,242 | $9,704 | Pass |
| Salter College ( MA ) ° | $23,442 | 4.77 | $1,119 | $8,743 | Pass |
| Everest College ( WA ) | $23,290 | 5.03 | $1,172 | $9,157 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( MD ) ° | $23,243 | 5.43 | $1,274 | $9,954 | Pass |
| Asher College ( CA ) ° | $23,192 | 2.57 | $598 | $4,672 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $23,163 | 5.51 | $1,278 | $9,985 | Pass |
| Estrella Mountain Community College ( AZ ) * | $23,128 | 2.14 | $497 | $3,883 | Pass |
| Career College Consultants ( CA ) ° | $23,042 | 4.9 | $1,312 | $10,251 | Pass |
| Lake Land College ( IL ) * | $22,948 | 0.21 | $50 | $391 | Pass |
| Augusta Technical College ( GA ) * | $22,825 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| College Of Health Care Professions (The) ( TX ) ° | $22,454 | 4.59 | $1,145 | $8,946 | Pass |
| Great Lakes Institute Of Technology ( PA ) ° | $22,447 | 7.06 | $1,587 | $12,399 | Pass |
| Pima Medical Institute ( AZ ) ° | $22,211 | 3.88 | $863 | $6,743 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $22,140 | 5.56 | $1,231 | $9,618 | Pass |
| Orion College ( FL ) ° | $21,944 | 5.97 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TN ) ° | $21,935 | 5.97 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Daymar Institute ( TN ) ° | $21,917 | 10.46 | $2,293 | $17,915 | Zone |
| Mattia College ( FL ) ° | $21,840 | 5.56 | $1,296 | $10,126 | Pass |
| Erwin Technical College ( FL ) * | $21,796 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| West Tennessee Business College ( TN ) ° | $21,723 | 3.77 | $821 | $6,414 | Pass |
| Harris School Of Business ( DE ) ° | $21,538 | 5.89 | $1,270 | $9,923 | Pass |
| Everest College ( IL ) | $21,452 | 7.33 | $1,573 | $12,290 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $21,306 | 5.9 | $1,258 | $9,829 | Pass |
| West Virginia Northern Community College ( WV ) * | $21,279 | 0.97 | $207 | $1,617 | Pass |
| Southeastern College ( FL ) ° | $21,246 | 6.48 | $1,378 | $10,766 | Pass |
| Broadview University ( UT ) ° | $21,162 | 12.23 | $2,589 | $20,228 | Fail |
| Indiana University Southeast ( IN ) * | $21,154 | 0.29 | $69 | $539 | Pass |
| Everest College ( UT ) ° | $21,052 | 7.25 | $1,532 | $11,970 | Pass |
| College Of Health Care Professions (The) ( TX ) ° | $20,883 | 4.87 | $1,070 | $8,360 | Pass |
| Canton City School District Adult Career & Technical Education ( OH ) * | $20,853 | 0.95 | $200 | $1,563 | Pass |
| Sinclair Community College ( OH ) * | $20,853 | 1.04 | $217 | $1,695 | Pass |
| Umpqua Community College ( OR ) * | $20,750 | 0.99 | $207 | $1,617 | Pass |
| Elmira Business Institute ( NY ) ° | $20,717 | 9.67 | $2,004 | $15,657 | Zone |
| Ata College ( KY ) ° | $20,592 | 4.27 | $880 | $6,875 | Pass |
| Everest College ( VA ) | $20,476 | 6.3 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Wichita Technical Institute ( KS ) ° | $20,414 | 8.79 | $1,795 | $14,024 | Zone |
| Miller - Motte Technical College ( TN ) ° | $20,252 | 10.99 | $2,226 | $17,392 | Zone |
| Delta College ( MI ) * | $20,109 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tucson College ( AZ ) ° | $19,858 | 6.11 | $1,214 | $9,485 | Pass |
| Harris School Of Business ( NJ ) ° | $19,441 | 4.11 | $806 | $6,297 | Pass |
| Mccann School Of Business & Technology ( PA ) ° | $19,436 | 8.44 | $1,641 | $12,821 | Zone |
| Southeastern Institute ( SC ) ° | $19,426 | 7.77 | $1,620 | $12,657 | Pass |
| Remington College ( TX ) | $19,273 | 6.48 | $1,269 | $9,915 | Pass |
| Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical ( MN ) * | $19,262 | 3.83 | $760 | $5,938 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $19,193 | 6.83 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Florida Technical College ( FL ) ° | $19,143 | 6.84 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Virginia College ( AL ) ° | $19,067 | 11.37 | $2,168 | $16,939 | Zone |
| Delta College Of Arts & Technology ( LA ) ° | $18,990 | 1.56 | $297 | $2,320 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $18,952 | 6.91 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Midwest Technical Institute ( IL ) ° | $18,948 | 6.16 | $1,169 | $9,133 | Pass |
| Lane Community College ( OR ) * | $18,936 | 6.92 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Keystone Technical Institute ( PA ) ° | $18,931 | 6.45 | $1,222 | $9,547 | Pass |
| Polaris Career Center - Adult Education Department ( OH ) * | $18,919 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Hamilton Technical College ( IA ) ° | $18,812 | 6.96 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Sullivan University ( KY ) ° | $18,500 | 7.72 | $1,758 | $13,735 | Pass |
| Miller-Motte Technical College ( VA ) ° | $18,419 | 10.42 | $1,950 | $15,235 | Zone |
| Brookline College ( AZ ) ° | $18,388 | 7.12 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( MI ) | $18,342 | 8.44 | $1,550 | $12,110 | Zone |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $18,338 | 6.97 | $1,279 | $9,993 | Pass |
| Everett Community College ( WA ) * | $18,329 | 1.48 | $276 | $2,156 | Pass |
| South Texas College ( TX ) * | $18,312 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Southwest University At El Paso ( TX ) ° | $18,169 | 7.5 | $1,461 | $11,415 | Pass |
| Everest College ( OR ) | $18,020 | 1.66 | $312 | $2,438 | Pass |
| Southeastern Institute ( SC ) ° | $17,997 | 7.57 | $1,364 | $10,657 | Pass |
| Everest College ( MO ) | $17,937 | 7.64 | $1,459 | $11,399 | Pass |
| Southern Technical College ( FL ) ° | $17,728 | 5.2 | $960 | $7,500 | Pass |
| Westwood College - Denver North ( CO ) ° | $17,616 | 6.99 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( MD ) ° | $17,594 | 7 | $1,232 | $9,626 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( IN ) ° | $17,587 | 6.54 | $1,283 | $10,024 | Pass |
| Mohave Community College ( AZ ) * | $17,477 | 1.57 | $276 | $2,156 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( MD ) ° | $17,261 | 7.26 | $1,280 | $10,001 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $17,185 | 7.45 | $1,282 | $10,016 | Pass |
| Centura College ( VA ) ° | $17,075 | 7.05 | $1,318 | $10,298 | Pass |
| Allen School ( NY ) ° | $17,061 | 5.02 | $917 | $7,165 | Pass |
| Centura College ( SC ) ° | $16,993 | 7.37 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Southern Careers Institute ( TX ) ° | $16,890 | 5.78 | $977 | $7,633 | Pass |
| Star Career Academy ( NY ) ° | $16,788 | 7.19 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $16,747 | 6.96 | $1,166 | $9,110 | Pass |
| Centura College ( VA ) ° | $16,287 | 7.9 | $1,314 | $10,266 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( TX ) | $16,002 | 8.7 | $1,467 | $11,462 | Pass |
| Valley Grande Institute For Academic Studies ( TX ) | $15,691 | 6.17 | $969 | $7,571 | Pass |
| Everest University ( FL ) | $15,645 | 8.84 | $1,501 | $11,727 | Pass |
| Everest College ( WA ) | $15,481 | 4.76 | $848 | $6,625 | Pass |
| Wright Career College ( KS ) | $15,481 | 13.15 | $2,036 | $15,907 | Fail |
| College Of Business & Technology ( FL ) ° | $15,331 | 5.47 | $1,008 | $7,876 | Pass |
| North Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $14,982 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Everest College ( VA ) | $14,962 | 8.78 | $1,490 | $11,641 | Zone |
| Compass Career College ( LA ) ° | $14,899 | 6.13 | $1,020 | $7,969 | Pass |
| Everest College ( CO ) | $14,824 | 10.01 | $1,526 | $11,923 | Zone |
| Pinnacle Career Institute ( MO ) ° | $14,786 | 6.28 | $1,036 | $8,094 | Pass |
| Harris School Of Business ( NJ ) ° | $14,546 | 6.21 | $1,038 | $8,110 | Pass |
| Centura Institute ( FL ) ° | $14,480 | 8.53 | $1,316 | $10,282 | Zone |
| International Business College ( TX ) ° | $14,333 | 5.36 | $867 | $6,774 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( PA ) | $13,694 | 8.27 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Star Career Academy ( NY ) ° | $12,430 | 8.84 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Institute Of Technology ( CA ) ° | $12,260 | 8.55 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Uei College ( CA ) ° | $12,150 | 10.18 | $1,341 | $10,477 | Zone |
| Bryan University ( MO ) ° | $9,796 | 12.57 | $1,756 | $13,720 | Fail |