Research

Original analysis computed from U.S. Department of Education data. Every report states its method, is dated, and is free to cite with a link.

The Career Training Path Trade School Outcomes Index (2026)

Which trades pay best a year out, where graduates owe least, how public, non-profit and for-profit schools compare, and all 50 states ranked. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026.

Compare trades

Every program group side by side: earnings, debt, ratio and completion.

Coming next

Cost and time-to-earn by trade and state — the "what should I retrain into" table for career changers.
The 50-state career-school licensing map — who licenses private trade schools in each state, with links.
AI exposure × trade openings — BLS openings and wages joined to occupational AI-exposure estimates.