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Laura Mauro

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Paying for Career Training: Cost of Career Training and Trade Schools

How many trade schools are there in the United States?

In the United States, there are about 4,500 licensed post-secondary career training schools (excluding community colleges).

What types of career certificate programs are there?1

Career Paths Percent of Total
Animal services
2%
Architecture, design, visual arts, and performing arts
3%
Audio and film production
1%
Aviation and aviation maintenance
8%
Beauty, cosmetology, and esthetics
10%
Business training (marketing, sales, finance, leadership)
7%
Computer sciences (excl. IT/cybersecurity)
4%
Culinary arts and hospitality
2%
Education and teacher training
2%
Fitness, wellness, and recreation
7%
Healthcare and medical services
35%
Heavy equipment operations
1%
Installation, maintenance, and repair
4%
Internships and experiences
2%
IT/cybersecurity
2%
Language and linguistics
2%
Legal professions
1%
Truck driving
5%
Welding and underwater diving
2%
Total
100%

How much does trade school cost?2

On average, trade schools cost ~$7,900, but there’s a lot of variation in different career paths. For example, some schools — like truck driver training — cost less than $5K on average, while others — like aviation and aviation maintenance — cost upward of $20K on average.

School Types Avg Tuition Cost Per Student
Animal services
$5,693.69
Architecture, design, visual arts, and performing arts
$9,952.51
Audio and film production
$10,918.33
Aviation and aviation maintenance
$21,044.05
Beauty, cosmetology, and esthetics
$7,968.87
Business training (marketing, sales, finance, leadership)
$7,577.37
Computer sciences (excl. IT/cybersecurity)
$7,618.85
Culinary arts and hospitality
$5,586.25
Education and teacher training
$7,061.75
Fitness, wellness, and recreation
$5,609.47
Healthcare and medical services
$7,091.38
Heavy equipment operations
$5,802.93
Installation, maintenance, and repair
$9,250.53
Internships and experiences
$3,840.93
IT/cybersecurity
$11,381.21
Language and linguistics
$5,030.92
Legal professions
$4,849.71
Truck driving
$4,777.79
Diving and underwater welding
$9,033.86
Overall average
$7,899.49

Can you get student loans for trade school?3

Only about 10% of trade schools and career training programs (excluding community colleges) offer federal financial aid. Some career paths are more likely to offer federal aid than others — like cosmetology, audio and film production, and education and teacher training.

Percent of schools that offer Title IV funding:

Cosmetology
26%

Audio and film production
24%

Education and teacher training
14%

Schools Percent Title IV
Animal services
5%
Architecture, design, visual arts, and performing arts
18%
Audio and film production
24%
Aviation and aviation maintenance
1%
Beauty, cosmetology, and esthetics
26%
Business training (marketing, sales, finance, leadership)
16%
Computer sciences (excl. IT/cybersecurity)
4%
Culinary arts and hospitality
7%
Education and teacher training
14%
Fitness, wellness, and recreation
5%
Healthcare and medical services
9%
Heavy equipment operations
4%
Installation, maintenance, and repair
10%
Internships and experiences
1%
IT/cybersecurity
9%
Language and linguistics
1%
Legal professions
18%
Truck driving
3%
Diving and underwater welding
26%
Percent of all schools
10%

While federal student loans may not be available for all trade schools, other payment options are often available.

1Career certificate program types based on an analysis of 4,433 post-secondary career training schools across the United States — excluding traditional universities and community colleges.
2Average tuition cost based on an analysis of 2,056 available data points from post-secondary career training schools across the United States — excluding traditional universities and community colleges.
3Federal funding availability based on an analysis of 4,433 post-secondary career training schools across the United States — excluding traditional universities and community colleges.

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  • 45-60% of students qualify for 0% APR* payment plans
  • Enrollment increases of 20%+ reported by partner schools**

**Results vary by school and student demographics. This represents performance reported by individual school partners and should not be considered a guarantee of your specific outcomes.

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Maximizing Your Results

Pro Tip: Schools that require student deposits and set up automatic payments during enrollment see significantly better repayment performance across all financing options. These simple steps can meaningfully improve your outcomes.

FAQs

We use a comprehensive, AI-driven assessment that goes beyond traditional FICO scores to better serve career training students:

  • Climb Credit Score: Over 150 data points specifically designed for vocational students
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reliable predictor of payment performance
  • FICO Score: Used primarily for interest rate assignment

Key advantages of our approach:

  • Soft credit pull until loan funding (no credit impact during application)
  • The majority of students receive instant decisions
  • Students can apply with co-borrowers directly in the application
  • More accurate placement into appropriate financing products

We use a comprehensive, AI-driven assessment that goes beyond traditional FICO scores to better serve career training students:

  • Climb Credit Score: Over 150 data points specifically designed for vocational students
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reliable predictor of payment performance
  • FICO Score: Used primarily for interest rate assignment

Key advantages of our approach:

  • Soft credit pull until loan funding (no credit impact during application)
  • The majority of students receive instant decisions
  • Students can apply with co-borrowers directly in the application
  • More accurate placement into appropriate financing products

Students are placed into funding brackets (Elite, Standard, Enhanced) based on our AI assessment. Higher-credit students generate higher upfront payments to your school, while students with limited credit are seamlessly directed to our 0% Payment Plan.

These brackets are established using data from over $1 billion in career training loan originations and may be adjusted periodically based on updated repayment trends.

Important note: Regardless of which bracket a student falls into, they are considered fully paid by your school once funded. The student’s repayment obligation exists exclusively between Climb and the student.

Elite Access not available for Computer Science programs. Upfront percentages vary by industry and loan terms.

Once Climb disburses upfront funding for a student loan, that student is considered fully paid by your school. You will not receive any additional payments for that student—the single upfront payment is complete and final.

From that point forward, the student’s repayment obligation exists exclusively between Climb and the student. Your school has zero liability if the student defaults, and you keep the full upfront payment regardless of the student’s future payment performance.

They’re automatically offered our 0% Interest Payment Plan, ensuring no student is turned away while maintaining steady monthly cash flow for your school.

Higher-credit students generate larger upfront payments (75-100% of tuition), while students with limited credit use our 0% APR* Payment Plan for consistent monthly revenue. Both options are risk-free for your school

Absolutely. Climb complements existing payment options like scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, and internal financing.

Absolutely. Climb complements existing payment options like scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, and internal financing.

Typically, within 5-10 business days after your partnership agreement is signed.

Comprehensive onboarding webinar, continuous partner support via AI-assisted chat and live email—and real-time borrower assistance with our live-chat-available student success team.

No. Climb fully manages the administrative responsibilities—your team simply monitors your school’s performance via our intuitive School Portal.

Your school is fully protected either way. For Climb Loans, you keep the entire upfront payment with zero liability. For Payment Plans, you only receive what students actually pay, with no risk to your school.