2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in Minnesota

    Data-driven rankings of 38 trade colleges in Minnesota based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    38 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 38 schools

    #1
    54.3/ 100
    Nova Academy of Cosmetology

    Rochester, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:72%
    Student-Faculty:17:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$9,720
    Financial Aid:100%
    #2
    51.0/ 100
    Hastings Beauty School

    Hastings, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:65%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$7,833
    Financial Aid:78%
    #3
    49.1/ 100
    Leech Lake Tribal College

    Cass Lake, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:42%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #4
    48.7/ 100
    Northwest Technical College

    Bemidji, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:47%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:55
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%
    #5
    48.0/ 100
    Alexandria Technical & Community College

    Alexandria, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:65%
    Student-Faculty:18:1
    Programs:51
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:84%
    #6
    47.7/ 100
    PCI Academy-Plymouth

    Plymouth, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:72%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$24,988
    Financial Aid:84%
    #7
    47.6/ 100
    Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center

    Minneapolis, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:55%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$7,410
    Financial Aid:100%
    #8
    47.4/ 100
    Nova Academy of Cosmetology Woodbury

    WOODBURY, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:71%
    Student-Faculty:17:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:$9,533
    Financial Aid:75%
    #9
    45.6/ 100
    Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis

    Minneapolis, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:61%
    Student-Faculty:17:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$16,617
    Financial Aid:95%
    #10
    45.4/ 100
    Minnesota West Community and Technical College

    Granite Falls, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:49%
    Student-Faculty:15:1
    Programs:97
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:88%
    #11
    45.2/ 100
    The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood

    Maplewood, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Student-Faculty:21:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$12,833
    Financial Aid:48%
    #12
    45.1/ 100
    Avalon School of Cosmetology

    Worthington, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:55%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$9,216
    Financial Aid:36%
    #13
    45.0/ 100
    Northland Community and Technical College

    Thief River Falls, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:47%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:81
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:88%
    #14
    44.5/ 100
    Model College of Hair Design

    Saint Cloud, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:67%
    Student-Faculty:20:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$7,250
    Financial Aid:88%
    #15
    43.8/ 100
    South Central College

    North Mankato, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:35%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:80
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:85%
    #16
    43.7/ 100
    Minnesota State College Southeast

    Winona, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:44%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:64
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%
    #17
    43.5/ 100
    Dakota County Technical College

    Rosemount, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:48%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:73
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:74%
    #18
    41.6/ 100
    Riverland Community College logo
    Riverland Community College

    Austin, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:17:1
    Programs:74
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:91%
    #18
    41.6/ 100
    Ridgewater College logo
    Ridgewater College

    Willmar, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:44%
    Student-Faculty:15:1
    Programs:83
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:81%
    #20
    41.3/ 100
    Lake Superior College logo
    Lake Superior College

    Duluth, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:39%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:88
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:76%
    #21
    41.1/ 100
    Hennepin Technical College logo
    Hennepin Technical College

    Brooklyn Park, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:37%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:139
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:75%
    #22
    40.9/ 100
    Minnesota North College logo
    Minnesota North College

    Hibbing, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:61
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:83%
    #23
    40.1/ 100
    Minnesota State Community and Technical College logo
    Minnesota State Community and Technical College

    Fergus Falls, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:16:1
    Programs:89
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:80%
    #23
    40.1/ 100
    Saint Paul College logo
    Saint Paul College

    Saint Paul, MN · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:33%
    Student-Faculty:14:1
    Programs:90
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:86%
    #25
    39.0/ 100
    Empire Beauty School-Bloomington logo
    Empire Beauty School-Bloomington

    Bloomington, MN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:64%
    Student-Faculty:16:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$9,102
    Financial Aid:80%

    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