166 schools · federal data
Plumbing schools compared
166 schools in our data award certificates or associate degrees in plumbing: 154 certificate programs and 30 associate programs. Graduates of the typical certificate program earned $41,193 a year after finishing and $50,748 four years after.
What counts: the Department of Education groups programs by field, and this field covers plumbing, pipefitting and related water supply services.
Certificate or associate degree?
| Certificate | Associate degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | 154 | 30 |
| Graduates in 2023-24 | 3,130 | 346 |
| Typical earnings 1 year after | $41,193 | $49,923 |
| Typical earnings 4 years after | $50,748 | $74,345 |
| Typical median debt | $8,441 | $11,500 |
Associate graduates in plumbing started out earning $8,730 more a year than certificate graduates, but an associate degree usually takes longer.
Highest-earning plumbing certificate programs
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings one year after graduation.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 56 | $92,533 | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 39 | $89,442 | $106,325 | n/a |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 34 | $68,478 | $80,012 | n/a |
| Perry Technical InstituteYakima, WA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 28 | $48,888 | n/a | $7,892 |
| Berk Trade and Business SchoolLong Island City, NY | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 37 | $42,916 | $46,884 | $6,333 |
| Adult and Continuing Education-BCTSHackensack, NJ | Public technical school | Certificate | 24 | $42,613 | n/a | $5,446 |
| Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 34 | $41,954 | $60,670 | n/a |
| Ranken Technical CollegeSaint Louis, MO | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 51 | $41,193 | $70,407 | $5,599 |
| Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 59 | $39,712 | n/a | $13,910 |
| Hohokus School of Trade and Technical SciencesPaterson, NJ | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 32 | $39,444 | $36,892 | $10,412 |
| Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City, NY | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 193 | $39,313 | $45,134 | $9,500 |
| Pennco Tech-BristolBristol, PA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 44 | $38,247 | $49,946 | $5,500 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton, TN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 11 | $33,714 | $45,385 | n/a |
| NUC UniversityBayamon, PR | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 160 | $25,760 | $21,656 | $9,500 |
| Philadelphia Technician TrainingPhiladelphia, PA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 22 | $25,402 | n/a | $9,500 |
Highest-earning plumbing associate programs
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 171 | $94,410 | $93,701 | n/a |
| New England Institute of TechnologyEast Greenwich, RI | Private 2-year college | Associate degree | 13 | $49,923 | $54,989 | $12,000 |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster, PA | Community college | Associate degree | 17 | $39,743 | n/a | $11,000 |
Largest plumbing programs
By number of graduates in 2023-24.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City, NY | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 193 | $39,313 | $45,134 | $9,500 |
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 171 | $94,410 | $93,701 | n/a |
| South Florida Institute of TechnologyMiami, FL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 164 | n/a | $47,029 | $9,500 |
| NUC UniversityBayamon, PR | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 160 | $25,760 | $21,656 | $9,500 |
| Columbus State Community CollegeColumbus, OH | Public technical school | Certificate | 143 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 122 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona Western CollegeYuma, AZ | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 70 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dixie Technical CollegeSaint George, UT | Public technical school | Certificate | 69 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 68 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rio Salado CollegeTempe, AZ | Public technical school | Certificate | 65 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 59 | $39,712 | n/a | $13,910 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville, KY | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 56 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 56 | $92,533 | n/a | n/a |
| J F Ingram State Technical CollegeDeatsville, AL | Public technical school | Certificate | 55 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Polytech Adult EducationWoodside, DE | Public technical school | Certificate | 54 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Plumbing schools by state
Fewer than 3 schools: Arkansas (1), Colorado (1), Delaware (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (2), Indiana (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Mexico (2), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Puerto Rico (2), Rhode Island (1), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (2), Washington (2), West Virginia (1). See each state's trade school page.
Frequently asked questions
How many plumbing schools are there?
166 schools on the College Scorecard awarded at least one plumbing certificate or associate degree in the last two years we have data for: 154 certificate programs and 30 associate programs.
How much do plumbing program graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical plumbing certificate program earned a median of $41,193 one year after finishing and $50,748 four years after, in 2024 dollars. For associate degrees the one-year figure was $49,923. Pay varies a lot by school and state, so check the program tables.
Which plumbing program has the highest earnings?
Among certificate programs with at least 10 graduates, Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI had the highest median earnings one year after graduation: $92,533.
How much debt do plumbing students take on?
At the typical certificate program, graduates who borrowed federal loans left with a median of $8,441. Many trade students borrow nothing, so check each school's net price and aid first.
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Carpentry · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
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.