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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Wyoming Community College District ( WY ) * | $52,225 | 0.84 | $446 | $3,485 | Pass |
| Riverland Community College ( MN ) * | $50,845 | 0.9 | $461 | $3,602 | Pass |
| Ashland Community And Technical College ( KY ) * | $49,036 | 1.05 | $517 | $4,039 | Pass |
| Wharton County Junior College ( TX ) * | $46,162 | 1.09 | $506 | $3,953 | Pass |
| Anoka Technical College ( MN ) * | $45,806 | 0.88 | $468 | $3,656 | Pass |
| Northland Community And Technical College ( MN ) * | $44,668 | 1.04 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Texas State Technical College Harlingen ( TX ) * | $44,358 | 0.58 | $280 | $2,188 | Pass |
| Western Technical College ( WI ) * | $43,546 | 1.69 | $738 | $5,766 | Pass |
| Avtec - Alaska'S Institute Of Technology ( AK ) * | $43,528 | 1.15 | $528 | $4,125 | Pass |
| St. Cloud Technical And Community College ( MN ) * | $42,514 | 1.78 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| South Texas College ( TX ) * | $42,500 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| North Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $41,817 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Lakeshore Technical College ( WI ) * | $41,192 | 0.77 | $318 | $2,485 | Pass |
| Alexandria Technical And Community College ( MN ) * | $40,717 | 1.86 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Ridgewater College ( MN ) * | $40,078 | 2.28 | $914 | $7,141 | Pass |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College ( WI ) * | $39,338 | 2.41 | $949 | $7,415 | Pass |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College ( GA ) * | $39,039 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology ( OH ) | $38,990 | 1.87 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ( WI ) * | $38,772 | 1.24 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ( WI ) * | $38,570 | 1.25 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Frank Phillips College ( TX ) * | $38,229 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Clarendon College ( TX ) * | $37,691 | 0.99 | $397 | $3,102 | Pass |
| Welder Training & Testing Institute ( PA ) ° | $37,634 | 1.97 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Dunwoody College Of Technology ( MN ) | $37,554 | 5.7 | $2,141 | $16,728 | Pass |
| George C. Wallace Community College ( AL ) * | $37,386 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ( WI ) * | $37,270 | 2.03 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Blackhawk Technical College ( WI ) * | $36,930 | 1.3 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Dakota County Technical College ( MN ) * | $36,927 | 2.05 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Iowa Central Community College ( IA ) * | $36,633 | 2.17 | $796 | $6,219 | Pass |
| Indian Hills Community College ( IA ) * | $36,201 | 2.47 | $897 | $7,008 | Pass |
| Central Lakes College ( MN ) * | $35,903 | 1.57 | $630 | $4,922 | Pass |
| Modern Welding School ( NY ) ° | $35,890 | 3.65 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Hawkeye Community College ( IA ) * | $35,428 | 1.19 | $425 | $3,321 | Pass |
| Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical ( MN ) * | $35,328 | 2.14 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Cda Technical Institute ( FL ) ° | $35,262 | 2.28 | $807 | $6,305 | Pass |
| Madison Area Technical College ( WI ) * | $35,190 | 2.15 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Coastal Pines Technical College ( GA ) * | $35,047 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Greenville Technical College ( SC ) * | $34,972 | 1.85 | $674 | $5,266 | Pass |
| East Central Community College ( MS ) * | $34,924 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Spartanburg Community College ( SC ) * | $34,631 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Lincoln Technical Institute ( CT ) ° | $34,356 | 4.82 | $1,657 | $12,946 | Pass |
| Northeast Community College ( NE ) * | $34,150 | 0.79 | $277 | $2,164 | Pass |
| Iowa Lakes Community College ( IA ) * | $33,598 | 2.25 | $758 | $5,922 | Pass |
| Piedmont Technical College ( SC ) * | $33,468 | 0.69 | $232 | $1,813 | Pass |
| North Central Kansas Technical College ( KS ) * | $33,159 | 2.16 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| Miller - Motte Technical College ( TN ) ° | $33,153 | 4.19 | $1,392 | $10,876 | Pass |
| Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College ( MN ) * | $32,627 | 2.85 | $933 | $7,290 | Pass |
| Advanced Welding Institute ( VT ) ° | $32,577 | 2.15 | $701 | $5,477 | Pass |
| Ohio Technical College ( OH ) ° | $32,522 | 3.58 | $1,165 | $9,102 | Pass |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Olney Central College ( IL ) * | $32,263 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Bay De Noc Community College ( MI ) * | $32,208 | 0.83 | $269 | $2,102 | Pass |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces ( NY ) * | $32,134 | 2.13 | $685 | $5,352 | Pass |
| Texas State Technical College ( TX ) * | $31,888 | 2.38 | $923 | $7,211 | Pass |
| Nicolet Area Technical College ( WI ) * | $31,808 | 0.84 | $276 | $2,156 | Pass |
| Fox Valley Technical College ( WI ) * | $31,390 | 1.45 | $456 | $3,563 | Pass |
| Central New Mexico Community College ( NM ) * | $31,132 | 0.83 | $261 | $2,039 | Pass |
| Lincoln College Of Technology ( IN ) ° | $31,121 | 3.96 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Jefferson Davis Community College ( AL ) * | $31,059 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Advanced Technology Institute ( VA ) ° | $30,797 | 5.71 | $1,760 | $13,751 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Hartsville ( TN ) * | $30,644 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College ( MS ) * | $30,510 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Everett Community College ( WA ) * | $30,314 | 0.64 | $197 | $1,539 | Pass |
| Black River Technical College ( AR ) * | $29,800 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( PA ) ° | $29,734 | 5.15 | $1,533 | $11,977 | Pass |
| Gadsden State Community College ( AL ) * | $29,702 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Southwest Mississippi Community College ( MS ) * | $29,699 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Pacific Coast Trade School ( CA ) ° | $29,649 | 2.79 | $828 | $6,469 | Pass |
| Tulsa Welding School ( OK ) ° | $29,623 | 4.12 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Florence - Darlington Technical College ( SC ) * | $29,552 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Orangeburg - Calhoun Technical College ( SC ) * | $29,299 | 0.04 | $13 | $102 | Pass |
| South Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $29,269 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Alabama Southern Community College ( AL ) * | $29,256 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Fred W. Eberle Technical Center ( WV ) * | $28,968 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| White Mountains Community College ( NH ) * | $28,518 | 2.58 | $759 | $5,930 | Pass |
| South Central Louisiana Technical College ( LA ) * | $28,443 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Indian Capital Technology Center, School District Number 4 ( OK ) * | $28,282 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Texas Vocational School ( TX ) ° | $28,265 | 1.58 | $566 | $4,422 | Pass |
| Northwest Kansas Technical College ( KS ) * | $27,917 | 2.1 | $618 | $4,828 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Athens ( TN ) * | $27,724 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| East Mississippi Community College ( MS ) * | $27,493 | 0.76 | $209 | $1,633 | Pass |
| Great Oaks Career Campuses-Scarlet Oaks ( OH ) * | $27,492 | 3.39 | $933 | $7,290 | Pass |
| Northcentral Technical College ( WI ) * | $27,396 | 2.55 | $706 | $5,516 | Pass |
| Community Care College ( OK ) ° | $27,301 | 5.44 | $1,487 | $11,618 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Pulaski ( TN ) * | $27,189 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Jacksboro ( TN ) * | $27,050 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Mckenzie ( TN ) * | $26,991 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Cisco College ( TX ) * | $26,871 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Des Moines Area Community College ( IA ) * | $26,857 | 2.7 | $727 | $5,680 | Pass |
| Great Falls College Montana State University ( MT ) * | $26,832 | 1.54 | $438 | $3,422 | Pass |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College ( WI ) * | $26,813 | 1.9 | $510 | $3,985 | Pass |
| Coffeyville Community College ( KS ) * | $26,704 | 1.21 | $379 | $2,961 | Pass |
| Western Technical College ( TX ) ° | $26,244 | 7.95 | $2,572 | $20,095 | Pass |
| Western Texas College ( TX ) * | $26,162 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| New Castle School Of Trades ( PA ) ° | $26,131 | 3.75 | $980 | $7,657 | Pass |
| Chattanooga State Community College ( TN ) * | $25,955 | 0.56 | $155 | $1,211 | Pass |
| Southern Regional Technical College ( GA ) * | $25,918 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Holmes Community College ( MS ) * | $25,852 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ( GA ) * | $25,703 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| North American Trade Schools ( MD ) ° | $25,636 | 4.07 | $1,052 | $8,219 | Pass |
| Alliance City Schools Career Centre ( OH ) * | $25,571 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Crossville ( TN ) * | $25,437 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Ho Ho Kus Schl Of Trade & Tech Sciences ( NJ ) ° | $25,271 | 3.8 | $1,011 | $7,899 | Pass |
| Sauk Valley Community College ( IL ) * | $25,181 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Northeast Technology Center ( OK ) * | $24,930 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Nashville ( TN ) * | $24,874 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Morristown ( TN ) * | $24,440 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Jackson ( TN ) * | $24,402 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Polaris Career Center - Adult Education Department ( OH ) * | $23,918 | 1.78 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Vatterott College ( MO ) ° | $23,828 | 10.95 | $2,761 | $21,572 | Zone |
| Trinity Valley Community College ( TX ) * | $23,805 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Midwest Technical Institute ( IL ) ° | $23,568 | 5.34 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College ( MS ) * | $23,475 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Hinds Community College ( MS ) * | $23,213 | 1.14 | $284 | $2,219 | Pass |
| Grand Rapids Community College ( MI ) * | $22,429 | 2.67 | $600 | $4,688 | Pass |
| Emily Griffith Technical College ( CO ) * | $22,075 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Spokane Community College ( WA ) * | $22,007 | 1.87 | $412 | $3,219 | Pass |
| Augusta Technical College ( GA ) * | $21,812 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Dean Institute Of Technology ( PA ) ° | $21,777 | 5.38 | $1,276 | $9,969 | Pass |
| Albany Technical College ( GA ) * | $21,552 | 1.53 | $405 | $3,164 | Pass |
| Fortis Institute ( MD ) ° | $21,138 | 5.68 | $1,201 | $9,383 | Pass |
| Mississippi Delta Community College ( MS ) * | $20,967 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Elizabethton ( TN ) * | $20,538 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Platt College ( OK ) ° | $20,123 | 8.37 | $1,795 | $14,024 | Pass |
| Central Carolina Technical College ( SC ) * | $20,037 | 1.8 | $483 | $3,774 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Memphis ( TN ) * | $19,863 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Hill College ( TX ) * | $19,735 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Whiteville ( TN ) * | $19,723 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Apex Technical School ( NY ) ° | $19,504 | 6.97 | $1,635 | $12,774 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Crump ( TN ) * | $19,440 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| South Central Career Center ( MO ) * | $19,249 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College ( GA ) * | $18,394 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology-Shelbyville ( TN ) * | $17,949 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Covington ( TN ) * | $17,160 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Center For Employment Training ( CA ) | $16,776 | 2.55 | $514 | $4,016 | Pass |
| Tennessee College Of Applied Technology - Harriman ( TN ) * | $15,794 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Green River College ( WA ) * | $15,538 | 0.89 | $204 | $1,594 | Pass |
| All-State Career ( MD ) ° | $15,076 | 9.01 | $1,764 | $13,782 | Zone |
| Tidewater Tech ( VA ) ° | $14,134 | 7.26 | $1,311 | $10,243 | Pass |
| Los Angeles Trade-Technical College ( CA ) * | $13,908 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College ( LA ) * | $13,839 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| J. F. Drake State Community And Technical College ( AL ) * | $13,286 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| Washington County Adult Skill Center ( VA ) * | $12,042 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |
| City Colleges Of Chicago - Kennedy King College ( IL ) * | $11,321 | 0.83 | $127 | $992 | Pass |
| Peninsula College ( WA ) * | $8,739 | 0 | $0 | $0 | Pass |