Wharton County Junior College

Wharton, TX · Public · 4,832 students · Visit Website

Wharton County Junior College offers hands-on training in programs like Automotive Technology and Welding Technology, preparing students for specific industry certifications and entry-level employment. The college also has strong connections with local businesses, offering customized training and workforce development opportunities through partnerships and grants. Additionally, WCJC provides specialized programs such as Manufacturing Technology, developed in collaboration with industry partners to meet regional workforce demands.

Programs Analyzed

9

Avg Grad Earnings

$40,554/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

70/100

Tuition (In-State)

$2,916/yr
Out-of-state: $5,568/yr

All Programs at Wharton County Junior College

9 trade programs at Wharton County Junior College, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.

Program Score Earnings Debt 10yr ROI AI Risk Job Market
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
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89 $78,791/yr $9,569 136.0x High Very Large
292 openings/yr
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections
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89 $55,919/yr 213.3x Moderate Very Large
480 openings/yr
Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
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83 $48,326/yr $8,750 164.7x Low Very Large
258 openings/yr
Business
Business/Commerce, General
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74 $29,619/yr $12,000 78.8x High Very Large
832 openings/yr
Physical Science Technology
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians
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66 $45,277/yr $14,000 209.5x Moderate Large
40 openings/yr
Welding & Metalworking
Precision Metal Working
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62 $28,408/yr 150.9x Low Very Large
164 openings/yr
HVAC Technology
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
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61 $32,414/yr 110.2x Low Large
40 openings/yr
Cosmetology
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
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56 $19,087/yr 93.8x Moderate Very Large
145 openings/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
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51 $27,148/yr $8,642 77.8x Low Medium
13 openings/yr

Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.

More Trade Schools in Texas

Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in Texas, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.

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Apprenticeship Pathways in Texas

Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in Texas. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.

Browse all apprenticeship trades →

Trade Schools Near Wharton

Other cities in Texas with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from Wharton.

About This Data

TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 9 trade and vocational programs at Wharton County Junior College using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).

The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2026.