2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in North Carolina

    Data-driven rankings of 84 trade colleges in North Carolina based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    84 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 84 schools

    #1
    58.6/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville

    Fayetteville, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:66%
    Student-Faculty:5:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$5,000
    Financial Aid:92%
    #2
    58.1/ 100
    No Grease Barber School

    Charlotte, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:92%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:1
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #3
    56.8/ 100
    Southeastern College-Charlotte

    Charlotte, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:67%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:9
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:97%
    #4
    56.7/ 100
    Halifax Community College

    Weldon, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:43%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:28
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #5
    56.5/ 100
    James Sprunt Community College

    Kenansville, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:36
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #6
    56.4/ 100
    Wilkes Community College

    Wilkesboro, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:43%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:53
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:91%
    #7
    55.6/ 100
    Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design

    Greenville, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:79%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$9,663
    Financial Aid:75%
    #8
    55.3/ 100
    Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

    Asheville, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:33%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:90
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #9
    54.9/ 100
    Blue Ridge Community College

    Flat Rock, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:72
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:93%
    #10
    54.3/ 100
    Surry Community College

    Dobson, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:46%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:58
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:85%
    #11
    52.9/ 100
    Southwestern Community College

    Sylva, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:54
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:80%
    #12
    52.8/ 100
    Cleveland Community College

    Shelby, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:27%
    Student-Faculty:2:1
    Programs:58
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #13
    52.5/ 100
    Pamlico Community College

    Grantsboro, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:57%
    Student-Faculty:1:1
    Programs:34
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:29%
    #14
    51.9/ 100
    Sampson Community College

    Clinton, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:36%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:49
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:88%
    #15
    51.2/ 100
    Richmond Community College

    Hamlet, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:33%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:35
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:97%
    #16
    51.0/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Raleigh

    Raleigh, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:70%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$7,350
    Financial Aid:84%
    #17
    50.7/ 100
    Gwinnett College

    Raleigh, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:67%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$13,522
    Financial Aid:65%
    #17
    50.7/ 100
    Center for Massage logo
    Center for Massage

    Asheville, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:84%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:1
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:47%
    #19
    50.6/ 100
    Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville logo
    Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville

    Fayetteville, NC · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:9
    Avg Tuition:$18,082
    Financial Aid:76%
    #19
    50.6/ 100
    Forsyth Technical Community College logo
    Forsyth Technical Community College

    Winston-Salem, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:29%
    Student-Faculty:5:1
    Programs:84
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:86%
    #21
    50.3/ 100
    Isothermal Community College logo
    Isothermal Community College

    Spindale, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:31%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:59
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:93%
    #21
    50.3/ 100
    Robeson Community College logo
    Robeson Community College

    Lumberton, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:33%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:33
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:87%
    #23
    50.2/ 100
    Montgomery Community College logo
    Montgomery Community College

    Troy, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:45%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:49
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:53%
    #24
    50.1/ 100
    Brunswick Community College logo
    Brunswick Community College

    Bolivia, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:37%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:28
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:84%
    #24
    50.1/ 100
    Randolph Community College logo
    Randolph Community College

    Asheboro, NC · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:35%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:51
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:78%

    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