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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark College ( WA ) * | $32,517 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Southeast Community College ( NE ) * | $31,096 | 2.12 | $662 | $5,172 | Pass |
| Chemeketa Community College ( OR ) * | $29,846 | 2.24 | $669 | $5,227 | Pass |
| Unitek College ( CA ) ° | $28,535 | 2.69 | $770 | $6,016 | Pass |
| Arizona College ( AZ ) ° | $27,736 | 4.72 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Midlands Technical College ( SC ) * | $26,967 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Linn-Benton Community College ( OR ) * | $26,712 | 1.65 | $441 | $3,446 | Pass |
| Edmonds Community College ( WA ) * | $26,535 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Austin Community College ( TX ) * | $25,857 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Career College Of Northern Nevada ( NV ) ° | $25,626 | 5.14 | $1,319 | $10,305 | Pass |
| Lakeshore Technical College ( WI ) * | $25,616 | 1.88 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Everest College ( CO ) | $25,194 | 5.27 | $1,330 | $10,391 | Pass |
| Capstone College ( CA ) ° | $25,174 | 2.74 | $691 | $5,399 | Pass |
| Pima Medical Institute ( AZ ) ° | $24,839 | 4.16 | $1,035 | $8,086 | Pass |
| Vance - Granville Community College ( NC ) * | $24,774 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Greenville Technical College ( SC ) * | $24,446 | 1.06 | $260 | $2,031 | Pass |
| Southeast Technical Institute ( SD ) * | $23,860 | 2.97 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Front Range Community College ( CO ) * | $23,854 | 1.64 | $393 | $3,071 | Pass |
| Blake Austin College ( CA ) ° | $23,793 | 4.5 | $1,071 | $8,368 | Pass |
| Ogeechee Technical College ( GA ) * | $23,687 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Asher College ( CA ) ° | $23,389 | 2.96 | $694 | $5,422 | Pass |
| Davidson County Community College ( NC ) * | $23,090 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Ayers Career College ( LA ) ° | $23,005 | 5.69 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Carrington College ( ID ) ° | $22,981 | 5.15 | $1,184 | $9,251 | Pass |
| Guilford Technical Community College ( NC ) * | $22,900 | 0.57 | $131 | $1,024 | Pass |
| Concorde Career College ( TN ) ° | $22,794 | 5.05 | $1,153 | $9,008 | Pass |
| Milan Institute ( CA ) ° | $22,754 | 5.76 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Concorde Career Institute ( FL ) ° | $22,751 | 4.36 | $992 | $7,750 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( NJ ) ° | $22,720 | 4.58 | $1,086 | $8,485 | Pass |
| Sanford-Brown College ( FL ) ° | $22,697 | 6.66 | $1,512 | $11,813 | Pass |
| Western Dakota Technical Institute ( SD ) * | $22,629 | 3.28 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Carrington College ( AZ ) ° | $22,542 | 5.62 | $1,267 | $9,899 | Pass |
| Le Cordon Bleu College Of Culinary Arts ( CA ) ° | $22,365 | 6.76 | $1,512 | $11,813 | Pass |
| American University Of Health Sciences ( CA ) ° | $22,073 | 2.71 | $600 | $4,688 | Pass |
| Career Networks Institute ( CA ) ° | $21,936 | 5.23 | $1,176 | $9,188 | Pass |
| Cci Training Center ( TX ) ° | $21,876 | 4.75 | $1,040 | $8,126 | Pass |
| Everest College ( MO ) | $21,762 | 6.03 | $1,314 | $10,266 | Pass |
| Provo College ( UT ) ° | $21,747 | 7.7 | $1,716 | $13,407 | Pass |
| Eagle Gate College ( UT ) ° | $21,659 | 7.59 | $1,645 | $12,852 | Pass |
| Polaris Career Center - Adult Education Department ( OH ) * | $21,643 | 1.97 | $434 | $3,391 | Pass |
| Miami Dade College ( FL ) * | $21,291 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Charles A. Jones Skills And Business Education Center ( CA ) * | $21,222 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Lincoln College Of Technology ( IN ) ° | $21,174 | 4.68 | $992 | $7,750 | Pass |
| American Career College ( CA ) ° | $21,162 | 5.71 | $1,287 | $10,055 | Pass |
| Pioneer Pacific College ( OR ) ° | $21,094 | 9.32 | $1,967 | $15,368 | Zone |
| Tucson College ( AZ ) ° | $21,080 | 5.68 | $1,198 | $9,360 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Memphis ( TN ) * | $21,026 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( TX ) ° | $20,917 | 6.21 | $1,299 | $10,149 | Pass |
| Everest College ( UT ) ° | $20,785 | 6.73 | $1,399 | $10,930 | Pass |
| Davis Applied Technology College ( UT ) * | $20,720 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Concorde Career Institute ( FL ) ° | $20,696 | 5.01 | $1,070 | $8,360 | Pass |
| Heritage Institute ( FL ) ° | $20,576 | 5.97 | $1,229 | $9,602 | Pass |
| Rasmussen College ( MN ) ° | $20,397 | 7.3 | $1,492 | $11,657 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( MD ) ° | $20,341 | 4.84 | $985 | $7,696 | Pass |
| American Career College ( CA ) ° | $20,289 | 6.46 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Atlanta Technical College ( GA ) * | $20,256 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| American National University ( IN ) ° | $20,247 | 6.58 | $1,333 | $10,415 | Pass |
| Horry - Georgetown Technical College ( SC ) * | $20,211 | 0.88 | $178 | $1,391 | Pass |
| Ultimate Medical Academy ( FL ) | $20,201 | 6.33 | $1,280 | $10,001 | Pass |
| Everest College ( OR ) | $20,034 | 7.82 | $1,567 | $12,243 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $19,987 | 4.32 | $903 | $7,055 | Pass |
| Chattanooga State Community College ( TN ) * | $19,954 | 2.3 | $459 | $3,586 | Pass |
| Community Care College ( OK ) ° | $19,953 | 5.33 | $1,065 | $8,321 | Pass |
| Everest College ( IL ) | $19,952 | 6.89 | $1,502 | $11,735 | Pass |
| Texas State Technical College ( TX ) * | $19,951 | 3.75 | $784 | $6,125 | Pass |
| Southern Careers Institute ( TX ) ° | $19,940 | 4.87 | $972 | $7,594 | Pass |
| Sanford-Brown College ( TX ) ° | $19,906 | 5.28 | $1,107 | $8,649 | Pass |
| Midwest Institute ( MO ) ° | $19,850 | 6.6 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Sinclair Community College ( OH ) * | $19,764 | 1.85 | $379 | $2,961 | Pass |
| Sanford-Brown College ( NY ) ° | $19,680 | 4.87 | $1,049 | $8,196 | Pass |
| Unitech Training Academy ( LA ) ° | $19,669 | 5.15 | $1,023 | $7,993 | Pass |
| Remington College ( TX ) | $19,663 | 6.45 | $1,269 | $9,915 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( NV ) ° | $19,587 | 5.61 | $1,173 | $9,165 | Pass |
| Cleveland Institute Of Dental - Medical Assistants ( OH ) ° | $19,491 | 6.9 | $1,346 | $10,516 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( CA ) ° | $19,401 | 5.44 | $1,062 | $8,297 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( PA ) | $19,363 | 7.52 | $1,458 | $11,391 | Pass |
| Yti Career Institute - Altoona ( PA ) ° | $19,304 | 5.49 | $1,060 | $8,282 | Pass |
| Midwest Technical Institute ( IL ) ° | $19,286 | 5.77 | $1,113 | $8,696 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( LA ) ° | $19,283 | 5.64 | $1,089 | $8,508 | Pass |
| Heritage College ( CO ) ° | $19,267 | 6.78 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Southern Crescent Technical College ( GA ) * | $19,176 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Sbi Campus - An Affiliate Of Sanford-Brown ( NY ) ° | $19,157 | 7.53 | $1,443 | $11,274 | Pass |
| Virginia College ( AL ) ° | $19,155 | 10.93 | $2,094 | $16,360 | Zone |
| North-West College ( CA ) ° | $19,129 | 3.91 | $804 | $6,282 | Pass |
| Lamar State College - Orange ( TX ) * | $19,111 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Renton Technical College ( WA ) * | $18,995 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Laurel Business Institute ( PA ) ° | $18,766 | 8.2 | $1,722 | $13,454 | Zone |
| Platt College ( OK ) ° | $18,744 | 5.42 | $1,037 | $8,102 | Pass |
| Sullivan University ( KY ) ° | $18,714 | 10.55 | $1,976 | $15,438 | Zone |
| Pennco Tech ( NJ ) ° | $18,576 | 3.48 | $647 | $5,055 | Pass |
| Dawn Career Institute ( DE ) ° | $18,505 | 4.36 | $808 | $6,313 | Pass |
| Franklin Technology Center ( MO ) * | $18,470 | 4.48 | $828 | $6,469 | Pass |
| Albany Technical College ( GA ) * | $18,065 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College ( GA ) * | $18,037 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( PA ) ° | $17,849 | 3.54 | $633 | $4,946 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( AL ) ° | $17,828 | 4.18 | $754 | $5,891 | Pass |
| Institute Of Technology ( CA ) ° | $17,808 | 7.06 | $1,301 | $10,165 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $17,716 | 6.62 | $1,207 | $9,430 | Pass |
| United Education Institute ( CA ) ° | $17,621 | 7.11 | $1,310 | $10,235 | Pass |
| Institute For Business & Technology ( CA ) ° | $17,606 | 6.19 | $1,184 | $9,251 | Pass |
| Everest Institute ( MI ) | $17,579 | 7.48 | $1,327 | $10,368 | Pass |
| Technical Education Center Osceola ( FL ) * | $17,497 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Heritage Institute ( FL ) ° | $17,488 | 7.42 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Academy Of Careers And Technology ( WV ) * | $17,437 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Harris School Of Business ( NJ ) ° | $17,352 | 5.7 | $1,041 | $8,133 | Pass |
| Great Lakes Institute Of Technology ( PA ) ° | $17,212 | 6.58 | $1,134 | $8,860 | Pass |
| Pennsylvania Institute Of Technology ( PA ) | $17,194 | 5.58 | $1,043 | $8,149 | Pass |
| Los Angeles Ort Technical Institute ( CA ) | $17,156 | 4.57 | $833 | $6,508 | Pass |
| Laurel Technical Institute ( PA ) ° | $17,074 | 11.53 | $2,026 | $15,829 | Zone |
| North-West College ( CA ) ° | $17,065 | 3.98 | $792 | $6,188 | Pass |
| Heritage College ( OK ) ° | $16,882 | 7.76 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces ( NY ) * | $16,862 | 4.77 | $842 | $6,579 | Pass |
| Saint Louis College Of Health Careers ( MO ) ° | $16,689 | 7.73 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( MD ) ° | $16,561 | 7.54 | $1,256 | $9,813 | Pass |
| North-West College ( CA ) ° | $16,537 | 4.12 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Everest College ( VA ) | $16,421 | 9.85 | $1,622 | $12,673 | Zone |
| Everest University ( FL ) | $16,420 | 8.48 | $1,429 | $11,165 | Pass |
| Trumbull Career And Technical Center-Adult Training Center ( OH ) * | $16,411 | 1.99 | $348 | $2,719 | Pass |
| American National University ( VA ) ° | $16,321 | 7.92 | $1,294 | $10,110 | Pass |
| Lincoln Technical Institute ( NJ ) ° | $16,297 | 5.8 | $1,033 | $8,071 | Pass |
| University Of Antelope Valley ( CA ) ° | $16,253 | 5.65 | $999 | $7,805 | Pass |
| National College ( TN ) ° | $16,112 | 7.55 | $1,324 | $10,344 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( PA ) ° | $15,968 | 6.77 | $1,125 | $8,790 | Pass |
| Southern State Community College ( OH ) * | $15,915 | 1.07 | $171 | $1,336 | Pass |
| Professional Careers Institute ( TX ) ° | $15,796 | 5.2 | $873 | $6,821 | Pass |
| Le Cordon Bleu College Of Culinary Arts ( TX ) ° | $15,793 | 13.58 | $2,145 | $16,759 | Fail |
| All-State Career ( MD ) ° | $15,695 | 3.93 | $663 | $5,180 | Pass |
| Fortis College ( AL ) ° | $15,488 | 6.65 | $1,031 | $8,055 | Pass |
| Northwestern College ( IL ) ° | $15,344 | 9.54 | $1,565 | $12,227 | Zone |
| Coyne College ( IL ) ° | $15,242 | 7.47 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Dorsey School Of Business ( MI ) ° | $15,057 | 4.5 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Brightwood Career Institute ( PA ) ° | $15,022 | 7.82 | $1,298 | $10,141 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( IN ) ° | $14,817 | 7.74 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Uei College ( CA ) ° | $14,811 | 8.76 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Fortis Institute ( TN ) ° | $14,475 | 6.6 | $996 | $7,782 | Pass |
| International Business College ( TX ) ° | $14,447 | 5.03 | $791 | $6,180 | Pass |
| Chester Career College ( VA ) ° | $14,312 | 2.83 | $458 | $3,578 | Pass |
| Brightwood College ( OH ) ° | $14,196 | 9.23 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Baker College ( MI ) | $14,036 | 8.2 | $1,195 | $9,337 | Zone |
| Mattia College ( FL ) ° | $13,910 | 4.96 | $735 | $5,743 | Pass |
| Florida Education Institute ( FL ) ° | $13,863 | 8.89 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |
| Vatterott College ( MO ) ° | $13,552 | 18.27 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Fail |
| American College Of Healthcare ( CA ) ° | $12,374 | 7.13 | $1,126 | $8,797 | Pass |
| Intercoast Colleges ( CA ) ° | $10,038 | 8.21 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Zone |