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Best Trade Programs in Connecticut (2026)

Top 87 of 87 programs in Connecticut · Updated 2026

The best trade school programs in Connecticut, ranked by overall value. We scored 87 programs across Connecticut trade schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $38,159/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in CT

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$38,159/yr

Avg TSW Score

56/100

#1 Program

Nursing

Connecticut State Community College

Top Trade Programs in Connecticut

Top 87 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	TSW Score	Earnings	AI-Proof	ROI
1	Nursing Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	85 79–86	$76,364/yr	Moderate	86.8x
2	Business Administration Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	77 73–79	$46,393/yr	Moderate	46.6x
3	Ground Transportation New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Connecticut · Somers, CT	71 69–71	$43,172/yr	AI-Proof	—
4	Ground Transportation New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-Bridgeport · Bridgeport, CT	71 69–71	$43,172/yr	AI-Proof	—
5	Practical Nursing Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	71 71–72	$55,837/yr	AI-Proof	38.1x
6	Practical Nursing Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	70 70–71	$53,457/yr	AI-Proof	38.1x
7	Business Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	72 66–75	$37,152/yr	Moderate	45.5x
8	Practical Nursing Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	68 66–69	$52,233/yr	AI-Proof	—
9	Practical Nursing Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton · Shelton, CT	68 66–69	$52,233/yr	AI-Proof	—
10	Precision Metalworking Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	67 65–69	$41,378/yr	AI-Proof	104.3x
11	Nursing Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	71 65–71	$79,227/yr	Moderate	19.3x
12	Allied Health Professions Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	79 75–79	$76,553/yr	Resilient	149.3x
13	Business Administration Post University · Waterbury, CT	71 65–73	$52,463/yr	Moderate	17.6x
14	Allied Health Professions Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	71 67–72	$65,724/yr	Resilient	73.3x
15	Accounting Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	70 63–73	$42,591/yr	Exposed	50.2x
16	Criminal Justice Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	66 59–69	$31,345/yr	Resilient	46.2x
17	Medical Assisting Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	67 62–67	$40,439/yr	Resilient	48.4x
18	Nursing Sacred Heart University · Fairfield, CT	67 61–68	$84,899/yr	Moderate	7.8x
19	Electrical Installation Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	61 58–61	$39,745/yr	AI-Proof	31.3x
20	Electrical Installation Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	61 58–62	$40,219/yr	AI-Proof	—
21	Electrical Installation Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	62 57–63	$37,569/yr	AI-Proof	37.5x
22	Precision Metalworking Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor · East Windsor, CT	53 52–54	$39,408/yr	AI-Proof	—
23	Culinary Arts Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	60 58–61	$24,128/yr	AI-Proof	—
24	Precision Metalworking Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	53 52–54	$39,408/yr	AI-Proof	—
25	Culinary Arts Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton · Shelton, CT	60 58–61	$24,128/yr	AI-Proof	—
26	Vehicle Repair Technology Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	57 55–57	$37,089/yr	AI-Proof	—
27	Electrical Installation Industrial Management Training Institute · Waterbury, CT	60 57–60	$37,876/yr	AI-Proof	—
28	Plumbing Industrial Management Training Institute · Waterbury, CT	58 56–58	$42,300/yr	AI-Proof	—
29	Electrical Installation Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor · East Windsor, CT	58 55–59	$35,880/yr	AI-Proof	—
30	Electrical Installation Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	58 55–59	$35,880/yr	AI-Proof	—
31	Electrical Installation Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton · Shelton, CT	58 55–59	$35,880/yr	AI-Proof	—
32	Vehicle Repair Technology Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor · East Windsor, CT	54 52–55	$32,767/yr	AI-Proof	—
33	Teacher Education Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	60 57–61	$29,811/yr	Moderate	32.2x
34	Health Administration American Institute-West Hartford · West Hartford, CT	62 55–64	$31,463/yr	Moderate	—
35	Allied Health Professions American Institute-West Hartford · West Hartford, CT	59 55–60	$51,318/yr	Resilient	—
36	Electrical Repair Technology Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	56 53–57	$48,608/yr	AI-Proof	—
37	Vehicle Repair Technology Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	54 52–55	$32,767/yr	AI-Proof	—
38	Vehicle Repair Technology Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	55 52–55	$34,030/yr	AI-Proof	29.1x
39	Allied Health Professions Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	58 54–58	$67,217/yr	Resilient	15.3x
40	Mental Health Services Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	59 56–60	$36,043/yr	Resilient	38.3x
41	HVAC Technology Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	55 53–55	$43,235/yr	AI-Proof	38.7x
42	Vehicle Repair Technology Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	53 52–54	$33,379/yr	AI-Proof	25.0x
43	Computer Networking Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	62 52–64	$38,611/yr	Exposed	34.7x
44	Health Administration Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	61 55–63	$32,936/yr	Moderate	20.8x
45	Human Resources Post University · Waterbury, CT	60 56–63	$41,805/yr	Moderate	23.4x
46	Medical Assisting Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	56 53–57	$34,069/yr	Resilient	26.1x
47	Veterinary Technology Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	57 54–57	$43,125/yr	Resilient	41.8x
48	Medical Assisting Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	56 52–56	$31,098/yr	Resilient	—
49	Electrical Repair Technology Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	54 51–54	$40,642/yr	AI-Proof	34.0x
50	Medical Assisting Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	56 52–56	$33,052/yr	Resilient	25.5x
51	Medical Assisting Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton · Shelton, CT	56 52–56	$31,098/yr	Resilient	—
52	HVAC Technology Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	52 50–52	$40,075/yr	AI-Proof	33.2x
53	Health Administration Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	58 52–60	$31,850/yr	Moderate	14.0x
54	Computer Networking Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	60 51–62	$37,883/yr	Exposed	—
55	Criminal Justice Post University · Waterbury, CT	56 50–58	$30,325/yr	Resilient	13.0x
56	HVAC Technology Industrial Management Training Institute · Waterbury, CT	52 50–52	$41,746/yr	AI-Proof	—
57	Dental Assisting Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	54 51–54	$58,397/yr	Resilient	12.8x
58	Electrical Repair Technology Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	51 49–51	$37,816/yr	AI-Proof	28.9x
59	Allied Health Professions Sacred Heart University · Fairfield, CT	53 49–54	$58,251/yr	Resilient	6.0x
60	Management Information Systems Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	58 48–62	$45,723/yr	Exposed	58.6x
61	Medical Assisting Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	52 47–52	$33,890/yr	Resilient	9.3x
62	Environmental Technology Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor · East Windsor, CT	49 47–51	$37,285/yr	Resilient	—
63	Business Operations Support American Institute-West Hartford · West Hartford, CT	52 46–55	$22,347/yr	Exposed	—
64	Environmental Technology Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain · New Britain, CT	49 47–51	$37,285/yr	Resilient	—
65	Human Development & Family Studies Post University · Waterbury, CT	51 48–53	$28,745/yr	Moderate	8.2x
66	Industrial Production Technology Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	49 47–50	$41,911/yr	Resilient	18.8x
67	Social Work Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	52 46–53	$29,555/yr	Resilient	41.8x
68	Medical Assisting American Institute-West Hartford · West Hartford, CT	50 46–51	$24,139/yr	Resilient	—
69	Drafting & Design Technology Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	46 43–49	$40,650/yr	Moderate	34.3x
70	Funeral Service & Mortuary Science Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	44 43–45	$45,261/yr	AI-Proof	9.7x
71	Liberal Arts & Humanities Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	42 38–41	$25,072/yr	AI-Proof	41.2x
72	Cosmetology TIGI Hairdressing Academy Newtown · Newtown, CT	44 41–45	$21,621/yr	Resilient	—
73	Dental Assisting Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden · Hamden, CT	44 40–44	$28,583/yr	Resilient	23.6x
74	Cosmetology Paul Mitchell the School-North Haven · North Haven, CT	43 40–44	$19,288/yr	Resilient	—
75	Dental Assisting Porter & Chester Institute · Bridgeport, CT	44 40–44	$28,549/yr	Resilient	21.8x
76	Cosmetology Academy Di Capelli-School of Cosmetology · Wallingford, CT	44 40–44	$19,955/yr	Resilient	—
77	Cosmetology International Institute of Cosmetology · Wethersfield, CT	44 40–44	$20,111/yr	Resilient	—
78	Ophthalmic & Optometric Services Goodwin University · East Hartford, CT	44 40–45	$41,025/yr	Resilient	8.7x
79	Dental Assisting American Institute-West Hartford · West Hartford, CT	43 39–44	$25,355/yr	Resilient	—
80	Cosmetology Branford Academy of Hair and Cosmetology · Branford, CT	42 38–43	$15,931/yr	Resilient	—
81	Cosmetology Oxford Academy of Hair Design Inc · Seymour, CT	42 39–43	$16,963/yr	Resilient	—
82	Cosmetology Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology-Bridgeport · Bridgeport, CT	42 38–43	$15,931/yr	Resilient	—
83	Legal Support Services Post University · Waterbury, CT	44 38–47	$36,412/yr	Exposed	20.3x
84	Fine and Studio Arts Connecticut State Community College · Hartford, CT	40 35–42	$22,100/yr	Resilient	28.1x
85	Massage Therapy Cortiva Institute · Cromwell, CT	40 35–40	$22,731/yr	Resilient	—
86	Massage Therapy American Institute-West Hartford · West Hartford, CT	38 33–38	$18,889/yr	Resilient	—
87	Liberal Arts & Humanities University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT	25 25–25	$6,992/yr	AI-Proof	3.6x

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 87 trade programs at Connecticut schools, drawn from 87 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade program in Connecticut?

By TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Nursing at Connecticut State Community College ranks #1 in Connecticut with a score of 85/100 and graduate earnings of $76,364/yr.

How many trade programs are in Connecticut?

Our database includes 87 trade programs across Connecticut schools with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.