Career Training Path › Florida › Okaloosa Technical College
Okaloosa Technical College
Fort Walton Beach, Florida · Public technical college
Address: 1976 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 · Phone: (850) 833-3500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning · Council on Occupational Education; Mar 2025 · Renewal of Accreditation. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Okaloosa Technical College is a public trade school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, offering auto mechanic, LPN, and cosmetology programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Okaloosa Technical College has an 82.4% completion rate, above the state average of 70.5%, and median earnings of $32,577 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance at Okaloosa Technical College is $21,680, federal financial aid can be used since the school participates in Title IV, and 38.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,970 | $48,260 | $62,990 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,450 | $61,770 | $64,710 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $27,450 | $29,530 | $35,090 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $39,200 | $50,640 | $60,600 |
| Construction laborers | $33,280 | $44,030 | $47,970 |
| Electricians | $38,190 | $57,250 | $61,900 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $31,920 | $58,240 | $75,840 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Florida (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 31 | $31,193 | $27,497 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 25 | $19,935 | $16,478 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | $28,960 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | $28,960 | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Okaloosa Technical College is a public trade and career-training campus in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, located in a small-city setting. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA and Pell Grant funding. The campus awards 11 program families, with the largest enrollments in auto mechanic schools (39 students), LPN/LVN programs (31 students), and cosmetology schools (25 students).
Federal outcome data shows a completion rate of 82.4%, which is above the state average of 70.5%. Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,577. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $21,680, and 38.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income students. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 140 trade completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 421, this campus centers on short, occupational programs rather than multi-year associate degrees, based on the program families listed. This structure may suit students and career changers seeking direct-entry trade training, though specific program lengths and scheduling are not reported for this campus in federal data and should be confirmed with the school directly. Prospective students can verify accreditation status through the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome figures on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Okaloosa Technical College offers 11 program families, with the largest being auto mechanic schools, LPN/LVN programs, and cosmetology schools. It also lists welding, construction trades, electrician, and culinary programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA and Pell Grant funding.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 82.4%, which is above the Florida state average of 70.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (850) 833-3500 or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,577, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is listed at $21,680.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Okaloosa Technical College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition costs and public accountability compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (850) 833-3500 or visit https://www.otcollege.net/ for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?433068.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers short occupational programs in fields like automotive, nursing, and cosmetology, which may suit adults seeking direct-entry trade training, though specific scheduling and program length details are not reported in federal data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Okaloosa Technical College at (850) 833-3500 or visit their website at https://www.otcollege.net/ for application information.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.