2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in Virginia

    Data-driven rankings of 55 trade colleges in Virginia based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    55 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 55 schools

    #1
    77.2/ 100
    Avi Career Training

    Great Falls, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:94%
    Student-Faculty:2:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:$11,040
    Financial Aid:100%
    #2
    69.3/ 100
    Medical Solutions Academy

    Danville, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:94%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$5,371
    Financial Aid:100%
    #3
    62.9/ 100
    Eastern Virginia Career College

    Fredericksburg, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:72%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:8
    Avg Tuition:$19,680
    Financial Aid:70%
    #4
    60.0/ 100
    Southside College of Health Sciences

    Colonial Heights, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:76%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:N/A
    #5
    57.9/ 100
    Columbia College

    Vienna, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:8
    Avg Tuition:$23,917
    Financial Aid:40%
    #6
    57.1/ 100
    The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics

    Virginia Beach, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:95%
    Student-Faculty:15:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$10,750
    Financial Aid:83%
    #7
    56.0/ 100
    Chester Career College

    CHESTER, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:47%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:7
    Avg Tuition:$14,560
    Financial Aid:100%
    #8
    52.9/ 100
    Centura College-Norfolk

    Norfolk, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:7
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #9
    52.4/ 100
    Mountain Empire Community College

    Big Stone Gap, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:41%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:40
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:93%
    #10
    52.3/ 100
    Grad Rate:92%
    Student-Faculty:18:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$7,633
    Financial Aid:68%
    #11
    51.7/ 100
    Sovah School of Health Professions

    Danville, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:69%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:N/A
    #12
    51.5/ 100
    Advanced Technology Institute

    Virginia Beach, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:9
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:64%
    #13
    50.2/ 100
    Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing

    Falls Church, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:81%
    Student-Faculty:17:1
    Programs:1
    Avg Tuition:$29,382
    Financial Aid:90%
    #13
    50.2/ 100
    Centura College-Newport News

    Newport News, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:72%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #15
    48.4/ 100
    Mountain Gateway Community College

    Clifton Forge, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:38%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:32
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:89%
    #16
    48.1/ 100
    Tomorrow's Image Barber And Beauty Academy of Virginia

    Newport News, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:54%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$17,758
    Financial Aid:100%
    #17
    45.5/ 100
    Fortis College-Norfolk

    Norfolk, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:52%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:6
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #18
    44.5/ 100
    Wytheville Community College logo
    Wytheville Community College

    Wytheville, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:40%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:31
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:96%
    #19
    44.2/ 100
    Tidewater Tech-Trades logo
    Tidewater Tech-Trades

    Norfolk, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:84%
    #19
    44.2/ 100
    Southwest Virginia Community College logo
    Southwest Virginia Community College

    Cedar Bluff, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:35%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:37
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:94%
    #21
    41.9/ 100
    Cayce/Reilly School of Massage logo
    Cayce/Reilly School of Massage

    Virginia Beach, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:90%
    Student-Faculty:N/A
    Programs:1
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #21
    41.9/ 100
    Virginia Highlands Community College logo
    Virginia Highlands Community College

    Abingdon, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:30%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:31
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:87%
    #23
    41.3/ 100
    Patrick & Henry Community College logo
    Patrick & Henry Community College

    Martinsville, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:33%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:28
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:79%
    #24
    40.4/ 100
    Central Virginia Community College logo
    Central Virginia Community College

    Lynchburg, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:28%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:35
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:81%
    #25
    39.9/ 100
    Southside Virginia Community College logo
    Southside Virginia Community College

    Alberta, VA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:36%
    Student-Faculty:11:1
    Programs:30
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:76%

    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