2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in Connecticut

    Data-driven rankings of 20 trade colleges in Connecticut based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    20 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–20 of 20 schools

    #1
    65.4/ 100
    American Institute of Healthcare & Technology

    Stratford, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:94%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:7
    Avg Tuition:$17,904
    Financial Aid:92%
    #2
    65.2/ 100
    Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology

    Branford, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$12,235
    Financial Aid:100%
    #3
    60.3/ 100
    International Institute of Cosmetology

    Wethersfield, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:73%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$4,279
    Financial Aid:96%
    #4
    55.2/ 100
    Academy Di Capelli-School of Cosmetology

    Wallingford, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:90%
    Student-Faculty:23:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$13,600
    Financial Aid:86%
    #5
    54.9/ 100
    Grad Rate:76%
    Student-Faculty:17:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$5,045
    Financial Aid:98%
    #6
    54.8/ 100
    American Institute-West Hartford

    West Hartford, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:57%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:7
    Avg Tuition:$18,451
    Financial Aid:100%
    #7
    54.7/ 100
    Industrial Management Training Institute

    Waterbury, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:80%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$23,283
    Financial Aid:50%
    #8
    54.2/ 100
    TIGI Hairdressing Academy Guilford

    Guilford, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$9,000
    Financial Aid:61%
    #9
    53.8/ 100
    Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton

    Shelton, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:58%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$26,985
    Financial Aid:94%
    #10
    53.0/ 100
    TIGI Hairdressing Academy Newtown

    Newtown, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:71%
    Student-Faculty:5:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$11,350
    Financial Aid:57%
    #11
    52.2/ 100
    Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain

    New Britain, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:53%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$29,913
    Financial Aid:96%
    #12
    51.7/ 100
    Oxford Academy of Hair Design Inc

    Seymour, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:75%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$21,300
    Financial Aid:80%
    #13
    50.2/ 100
    Connecticut State Community College

    New Britain, CT · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:25%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:171
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #14
    48.8/ 100
    Porter & Chester Institute

    Bridgeport, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:53%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:10
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%
    #15
    47.8/ 100
    Grad Rate:72%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:1
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:97%
    #16
    47.6/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-North Haven

    North Haven, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:64%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$4,305
    Financial Aid:85%
    #17
    47.1/ 100
    Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor

    East Windsor, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:58%
    Student-Faculty:22:1
    Programs:10
    Avg Tuition:$31,844
    Financial Aid:97%
    #18
    42.6/ 100
    Cortiva Institute logo
    Cortiva Institute

    Cromwell, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:30:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$9,177
    Financial Aid:57%
    #19
    41.6/ 100
    Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden logo
    Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden

    Hamden, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:35%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:9
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:92%
    #20
    40.2/ 100
    Dolce The Academy logo
    Dolce The Academy

    Waterbury, CT · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:42%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$9,500
    Financial Aid:91%

    Our rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using six weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, student-faculty ratio, program breadth, institutional scale, financial accessibility, and affordability. Schools must meet minimum eligibility requirements to be ranked.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology