Frequently asked questions
What counts as a trade school here?
Any accredited postsecondary campus that awarded a certificate or associate degree in one of 29 hands-on program groups in the latest federal completions survey: construction and mechanical trades, transportation, personal services, culinary, and short healthcare credentials. Community colleges with trade programs are included; four-year academic programs are not.
Where do the completion, debt and earnings numbers come from?
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Completion is the share of students who finish within 150% of the program's normal time (an institution-wide figure). Debt is the median federal loan debt of graduates. Earnings are medians for graduates of a specific program at a specific campus, one and two years after finishing, and for all entrants ten years after entry.
Why does a program say 'not reported'?
The federal government suppresses a figure when the group of students is too small to publish without risking someone's privacy. It is not a bad sign about the school; it usually means a small program. We never fill the gap with an estimate.
What does 'accredited' mean and why does it matter?
The campus is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, as recorded in the federal accreditation database. Accreditation is what makes a school eligible for federal aid and is the first thing to verify before enrolling. Each profile names the accreditor and links to the federal record.
Can I use FAFSA, Pell Grants or the GI Bill?
'Federal aid eligible: Yes' means the school participates in federal Title IV aid, so FAFSA, Pell Grants and federal loans apply. GI Bill and WIOA acceptance vary; ask the school. We will add a WIOA-eligible flag as state lists are integrated.
Are the rankings sponsored?
No. Campuses are ordered by federal outcome measures. There are no sponsored listings today; if any are introduced they will be labeled, and outcome data will never change because a school pays.
A school's information is wrong. How do I fix it?
Use the contact page with the campus name and what is wrong. Address and program data come from federal files and are corrected at the next federal release; descriptive text we can correct directly.
Is Career Training Path a school?
No. We are an independent publisher. We do not enroll students, and today we do not pass your details to schools.