45 trade schools · Virginia
Trade schools in Virginia
Virginia has 45 trade schools in our data (17 public, 27 for-profit), and 62 schools in all, counting community colleges, offer certificate or associate programs in the trades we track. Median yearly tuition at trade schools here is $10,454.
Trade schools45
Public17
For-profit27
Median tuition$10,454
Median completion rate49%
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry$38,562
Programs by trade in Virginia
Number of schools, including community colleges, with a certificate or associate program in each field.
Welding19 schoolsHVAC22 schoolsElectrician16 schoolsCarpentry1 schoolConstruction trades1 schoolAuto and diesel mechanic20 schoolsHeavy equipment mechanic1 schoolTruck driving (CDL)2 schoolsCosmetology and barbering14 schoolsCulinary arts13 schoolsMedical assistant20 schoolsLPN and CNA31 schoolsDental assisting and hygiene13 schoolsPhlebotomy and medical lab16 schoolsEMT, surgical tech and imaging29 schoolsMedical billing and coding28 schoolsMassage therapy12 schoolsParalegal17 schools
All 45 trade schools in Virginia
Schools that mostly award certificates. Click a heading to sort.
| School | Type | Students | Tuition (2025-26) | Avg net price | Completion rate | Earnings 10 yrs after entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach | For-profit trade school | 415 | $14,960 | $17,832 | 78% | $52,597 |
| Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology SchoolPetersburg | For-profit trade school | 70 | $13,600 | $19,436 | 75% | n/a |
| Ascent CollegeGainesville | Nonprofit trade school | 82 | $9,150 | n/a | n/a | $36,969 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-ArlingtonArlington | For-profit trade school | 166 | $21,000 | $16,418 | 79% | $28,449 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-ManassasManassas | For-profit trade school | 272 | $16,757 | $25,142 | 47% | $60,292 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-NorfolkNorfolk | For-profit trade school | 270 | $16,757 | $26,584 | 62% | $50,783 |
| Blue Ridge Community CollegeWeyers Cave | Public community or technical college | 2,730 | $5,793 | $13,500 | 37% | $44,754 |
| Brightpoint Community CollegeChester | Public community or technical college | 5,792 | $5,230 | $4,793 | 36% | $44,471 |
| Central Virginia Community CollegeLynchburg | Public community or technical college | 2,249 | $5,319 | $5,305 | 53% | $41,066 |
| Centura College-Newport NewsNewport News | For-profit trade school | 203 | $16,637 | $25,742 | 71% | $32,746 |
| Centura College-NorfolkNorfolk | For-profit trade school | 163 | $16,637 | $29,979 | 50% | $32,746 |
| Chester Career CollegeCHESTER | For-profit trade school | 79 | $36,500 | $44,977 | 72% | $36,221 |
| Columbia CollegeVienna | For-profit trade school | 151 | $10,200 | $10,513 | 81% | $30,797 |
| Danville Community CollegeDanville | Public community or technical college | 1,306 | $5,140 | $4,767 | 42% | $38,327 |
| Eastern Shore Community CollegeMelfa | Public community or technical college | 495 | $5,229 | $4,303 | 46% | $36,575 |
| Eastern Virginia Career CollegeFredericksburg | For-profit trade school | 177 | $34,950 | n/a | 70% | $43,556 |
| Empire Beauty School-MidlothianMidlothian | For-profit trade school | 125 | $13,600 | $17,324 | 46% | $32,104 |
| Empire Beauty School-Newport NewsNewport News | For-profit trade school | 92 | $13,600 | $18,381 | 34% | $32,104 |
| Empire Beauty School-RichmondRichmond | For-profit trade school | 77 | $13,600 | $19,307 | 49% | $32,104 |
| Empire Beauty School-Virginia BeachVirginia Beach | For-profit trade school | 163 | $13,600 | $17,854 | 43% | $31,224 |
| Fortis College-NorfolkNorfolk | For-profit trade school | 399 | $15,381 | $31,024 | 31% | $34,712 |
| Fortis College-RichmondRichmond | For-profit trade school | 502 | $16,345 | $25,648 | 44% | $34,712 |
| Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical NursingRichmond | Public technical school | 79 | $4,239 | n/a | n/a | $51,114 |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmond | Public community or technical college | 5,586 | $5,427 | $5,599 | 32% | $42,629 |
| Laurel Ridge Community CollegeMiddletown | Public community or technical college | 3,195 | $5,249 | $5,184 | 47% | $44,662 |
| Lotus Professional CollegeRichmond | For-profit trade school | 171 | $9,300 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Medical Solutions AcademyDanville | For-profit trade school | 108 | $14,110 | $38,038 | 54% | n/a |
| Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap | Public community or technical college | 1,282 | $5,154 | $7,931 | 56% | $36,661 |
| Mountain Gateway Community CollegeClifton Forge | Public community or technical college | 425 | $5,184 | $4,762 | 55% | $42,085 |
| New River Community CollegeDublin | Public community or technical college | 1,965 | $5,126 | $6,105 | 48% | $44,648 |
| Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic MassageFalls Church | For-profit trade school | 101 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $42,093 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-RoanokeRoanoke | For-profit trade school | 169 | $14,000 | $25,581 | 53% | $20,936 |
| Rappahannock Community CollegeGlenns | Public community or technical college | 1,367 | $5,249 | $5,014 | 39% | $40,384 |
| Rudy & Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner SchoolVirginia Beach | For-profit trade school | 155 | $14,575 | $25,502 | 67% | $29,718 |
| Southside Virginia Community CollegeAlberta | Public community or technical college | 1,807 | $5,154 | $10,096 | 43% | $37,707 |
| Southwest Virginia Community CollegeCedar Bluff | Public community or technical college | 1,651 | $5,252 | $5,173 | 46% | $38,796 |
| Standard Healthcare Services-College of NursingFalls Church | For-profit trade school | 730 | $25,634 | $46,382 | 67% | $77,923 |
| Sylvain Melloul International Hair AcademyLynchburg | For-profit trade school | 175 | $10,259 | n/a | 45% | n/a |
| The Chrysm Institute of EstheticsVirginia Beach | For-profit trade school | 271 | $10,650 | $23,068 | 93% | $32,158 |
| The Esthetic InstituteVienna | For-profit trade school | 66 | $10,000 | $23,078 | 97% | n/a |
| Tidewater Tech-East Little CreekNorfolk | For-profit trade school | 133 | $16,337 | $29,338 | n/a | $44,844 |
| Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk | For-profit trade school | 367 | $16,337 | $28,473 | 69% | $44,844 |
| Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon | Public community or technical college | 1,349 | $5,169 | $6,872 | 44% | $40,088 |
| Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke | Public community or technical college | 3,898 | $5,547 | $4,912 | 34% | $44,514 |
| Wytheville Community CollegeWytheville | Public community or technical college | 1,255 | $5,154 | $4,056 | 55% | $37,581 |
Colleges in Virginia with the most trade programs
- Tidewater Community College, Norfolk: 12 trade fields
- Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale: 10 trade fields
- Patrick & Henry Community College, Martinsville: 9 trade fields
- Paul D Camp Community College, Franklin: 7 trade fields
- ECPI University, Virginia Beach: 7 trade fields
- Germanna Community College, Locust Grove: 6 trade fields
- Virginia Peninsula Community College, Hampton: 6 trade fields
- Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach: 4 trade fields
- American National University, Salem: 4 trade fields
- Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville: 4 trade fields
- Liberty University, Lynchburg: 3 trade fields
- Riverside College of Health Sciences, Newport News: 3 trade fields
Cities with the most trade schools: Richmond (5), Norfolk (5), Virginia Beach (4).
Frequently asked questions
How many trade schools are in Virginia?
45 schools in Virginia mostly award certificates, and 62 schools including community colleges offer programs in the 19 trades we track.
How much does trade school cost in Virginia?
The median trade school in Virginia charges $10,454 a year in tuition and fees (2025-26). Public schools and community colleges usually cost less; compare the tuition column above.
What is the cheapest trade school in Virginia?
Among trade schools with a reported price, Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing in Richmond has the lowest yearly tuition and fees: $4,239.
Colleges in Virginia · All trades
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.