Best Trade Programs in Vermont (2026)
The best trade school programs in Vermont, ranked by overall value. We scored 11 programs across Vermont trade schools on earnings, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $45,864/yr in graduate earnings.
Top Trade Programs in Vermont
Top 11 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.
| # | Program | TSW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Practical Nursing
Vermont State University · Randolph, VT |
75
72–75 |
$51,608/yr | 55.3x |
| 2 |
Business
Community College of Vermont · Montpelier, VT |
75
70–77 |
$37,307/yr | 58.7x |
| 3 |
Nursing
Vermont State University · Randolph, VT |
73
68–73 |
$68,342/yr | 32.2x |
| 4 |
Vehicle Repair Technology
Vermont State University · Randolph, VT |
61
59–62 |
$48,817/yr | 27.1x |
| 5 |
IT Management
Champlain College · Burlington, VT |
68
61–71 |
$73,588/yr | 15.2x |
| 6 |
Security Technology
Champlain College · Burlington, VT |
67
62–69 |
$61,225/yr | 12.4x |
| 7 |
Teacher Education
Community College of Vermont · Montpelier, VT |
65
63–66 |
$31,610/yr | 41.7x |
| 8 |
Welding & Metalworking
Advanced Welding Institute · South Burlington, VT |
55
53–56 |
$42,399/yr | — |
| 9 |
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Community College of Vermont · Montpelier, VT |
48
47–48 |
$29,597/yr | 52.2x |
| 10 |
Cosmetology
O'Briens Aveda Institute · Williston, VT |
46
42–46 |
$23,620/yr | — |
| 11 |
Veterinary Technology
Vermont State University · Randolph, VT |
46
42–46 |
$36,395/yr | 16.6x |
About This Ranking
What we ranked
Best Trades in Vermont ranks 11 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.
Data sources
Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.
How to read the table
Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.
Caveats & limitations
Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.
Methodology
This ranking includes the top 11 trade programs at Vermont schools, drawn from 11 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, 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.