2026 Working Student Rankings
Best Trade Colleges for Working Students
Data-driven rankings of 1,565 trade colleges based on part-time student outcomes, retention, and schedule flexibility
1,565
Schools Ranked
835
Full Data Rankings
730
Partial Data Rankings
5
Ranking Criteria
Rankings based on IPEDS data: part-time completion rates, part-time retention, schedule accessibility, program breadth, and institutional scale.
View Methodology
Top Colleges for Working Students
Showing 1-25 of 1,565 ranked schools
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#1
Complete Data Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI
Public
Overall Score 89.7
89.7 / 100
PT Completion 97%
70.6% complete programs PT Retention 89%
59% retained PT Students 92%
78.9% part-time Enrollment 10,995
Programs 19 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,386
#2
Complete Data Lee College
Baytown, TX
Public
Overall Score 87.3
87.3 / 100
PT Completion 88%
51.8% complete programs PT Retention 78%
52% retained PT Students 97%
82.9% part-time Enrollment 8,143
Programs 32 fields
Tuition (In-State) $3,132
#3
Complete Data Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay, WI
Public
Overall Score 85.3
85.3 / 100
PT Completion 93%
58.2% complete programs PT Retention 89%
59% retained PT Students 86%
75.4% part-time Enrollment 10,815
Programs 16 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,386
#4
Complete Data Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland, WI
Public
Overall Score 84.9
84.9 / 100
PT Completion 94%
60.8% complete programs PT Retention 93%
65% retained PT Students 99%
86.7% part-time Enrollment 2,981
Programs 16 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,113
#5
Complete Data Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI
Public
Overall Score 84.5
84.5 / 100
PT Completion 93%
58.8% complete programs PT Retention 90%
60% retained PT Students 73%
70.5% part-time Enrollment 8,198
Programs 20 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,386
#6
Complete Data Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Martinsburg, WV
Public
Overall Score 84.1
84.1 / 100
PT Completion 89%
52.2% complete programs PT Retention 93%
64% retained PT Students 88%
76.4% part-time Enrollment 4,309
Programs 19 fields
Tuition (In-State) $434
#7
Complete Data Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac, WI
Public
Overall Score 84
84 / 100
PT Completion 96%
64.4% complete programs PT Retention 94%
68% retained PT Students 84%
74.3% part-time Enrollment 3,532
Programs 17 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,375
#8
Complete Data Athens Technical College
Athens, GA
Public
Overall Score 82.7
82.7 / 100
PT Completion 84%
47.6% complete programs PT Retention 87%
57% retained PT Students 96%
81.9% part-time Enrollment 4,169
Programs 20 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#9
Complete Data Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee, WI
Public
Overall Score 82.2
82.2 / 100
PT Completion 89%
52.8% complete programs PT Retention 95%
73% retained PT Students 82%
73.5% part-time Enrollment 7,757
Programs 14 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,386
#10
Complete Data Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Valdosta, GA
Public
Overall Score 82.1
82.1 / 100
PT Completion 90%
53.4% complete programs PT Retention 85%
56% retained PT Students 89%
76.5% part-time Enrollment 4,380
Programs 18 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#11
Complete Data Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Fennimore, WI
Public
Overall Score 81.9
81.9 / 100
PT Completion 97%
73.2% complete programs PT Retention 89%
59% retained PT Students 92%
78.5% part-time Enrollment 2,717
Programs 14 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,386
#12
Complete Data Southeastern Technical College
Vidalia, GA
Public
Overall Score 81.2
81.2 / 100
PT Completion 93%
58.6% complete programs PT Retention 90%
60% retained PT Students 97%
83% part-time Enrollment 1,887
Programs 15 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#13
Complete Data Flint Hills Technical College
Emporia, KS
Public
Overall Score 80.8
80.8 / 100
PT Completion 99%
85% complete programs PT Retention 95%
71% retained PT Students 93%
79% part-time Enrollment 1,639
Programs 11 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,960
#14
Complete Data Halifax Community College
Weldon, NC
Public
Overall Score 79.9
79.9 / 100
PT Completion 96%
65% complete programs PT Retention 92%
63% retained PT Students 94%
79.9% part-time Enrollment 1,013
Programs 14 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,432
#15
Complete Data California Career Institute
Anaheim, CA
Private For-Profit
Overall Score 79.6
79.6 / 100
PT Completion 99%
84% complete programs PT Retention 97%
81% retained PT Students 100%
97.5% part-time Enrollment 517
Programs 1 fields
#16
Complete Data Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA
Public
Overall Score 79.3
79.3 / 100
PT Completion 79%
44.2% complete programs PT Retention 72%
50% retained PT Students 92%
78.5% part-time Enrollment 9,726
Programs 20 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#17
Complete Data Coastal Pines Technical College
Waycross, GA
Public
Overall Score 79.1
79.1 / 100
PT Completion 95%
63.4% complete programs PT Retention 61%
47% retained PT Students 96%
82.1% part-time Enrollment 4,137
Programs 18 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#18
Complete Data Mid-State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Public
Overall Score 78.6
78.6 / 100
PT Completion 88%
52% complete programs PT Retention 92%
62% retained PT Students 83%
73.9% part-time Enrollment 2,918
Programs 15 fields
Tuition (In-State) $4,262
#19
Complete Data Southern Regional Technical College
Thomasville, GA
Public
Overall Score 78.1
78.1 / 100
PT Completion 90%
54.4% complete programs PT Retention 75%
51% retained PT Students 76%
71.9% part-time Enrollment 5,072
Programs 19 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#20
Complete Data Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GA
Public
Overall Score 77.7
77.7 / 100
PT Completion 87%
50.6% complete programs PT Retention 51%
45% retained PT Students 93%
79.1% part-time Enrollment 10,710
Programs 21 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,400
#21
Complete Data Lanier Technical College
Gainesville, GA
Public
Overall Score 77.7
77.7 / 100
PT Completion 83%
47% complete programs PT Retention 75%
51% retained PT Students 88%
76.4% part-time Enrollment 6,145
Programs 17 fields
Tuition (In-State) $3,000
#22
Complete Data FINE Mortuary College
Norwood, MA
Private For-Profit
Overall Score 77.4
77.4 / 100
PT Completion 97%
71% complete programs PT Retention 97%
83% retained PT Students 95%
81.8% part-time Enrollment 176
Programs 1 fields
Tuition (In-State) $18,900
#23
Complete Data Blackhawk Technical College
Janesville, WI
Public
Overall Score 77
77 / 100
PT Completion 88%
51.4% complete programs PT Retention 87%
57% retained PT Students 88%
76.4% part-time Enrollment 2,894
Programs 13 fields
Tuition (In-State) $3,506
#24
Complete Data Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Granite Falls, MN
Public
Overall Score 76.9
76.9 / 100
PT Completion 90%
54.6% complete programs PT Retention 91%
61% retained PT Students 63%
67.5% part-time Enrollment 3,438
Programs 17 fields
Tuition (In-State) $5,848
#25
Complete Data Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville, NC
Public
Overall Score 76.6
76.6 / 100
PT Completion 68%
38.8% complete programs PT Retention 94%
69% retained PT Students 88%
76.4% part-time Enrollment 6,297
Programs 16 fields
Tuition (In-State) $2,432