Here are the best schools in Jerome. This guide lists accredited options nearby, what they teach, program length, and how Idaho licensing works. It’s written for high school grads and career changers who want hands-on training with strong job demand in 2025.1
Compare Trade Schools Near Jerome, Idaho
These accredited schools serve Jerome and the Magic Valley or are strong statewide options you can reach within a day’s drive.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Idaho.
Schools closest to the main population center in Idaho are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Idaho is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
Median Annual Wage by Trade - Twin Falls, ID's most-employed tradesTrades ranked by local employment (BLS QCEW); wages are median annual pay (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; metro area where reported, otherwise statewide).
Median annual wage by trade in Twin Falls, ID
Trade
Median annual wage
Truck drivers
$57,330
Dental assistants
$44,610
Construction trades workers
$42,670
Veterinary assistants
$37,530
Cosmetologists
$35,480
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Jerome, Idaho (2026 Guide)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Trade Schools in Jerome, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Carrington College-Boise
$57,082
College of Southern Idaho
$46,129
Boise Barber College
$30,941
Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology
$30,231
Aveda Institute-Twin Falls
$28,256
Nathan Layne Institute of Cosmetology
$14,899
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Jerome
Among the Twin Falls, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $35,480 to $57,330 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical truck driver training runs 3-6 months (CDL program) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electrician
Electricians keep homes, farms, food processors, and data systems running across the Magic Valley. Nationally, median pay is about 1,590 and employment is projected to grow through 2032.1 In Jerome, start with an apprenticeship through College of Southern Idaho or a union/merit-shop program, then take the state journeyman exam.
HVAC Technician
Food processing and cold storage drive steady HVAC and refrigeration demand in southern Idaho. HVAC techs earn a national median of about 7,300.1 Many programs pair daytime work with evening classroom hours so you earn while you learn.
Plumber
New housing and dairy-related construction keep plumbers busy. Median pay is about 1,550 nationally.1 The most direct path is a registered apprenticeship plus Idaho’s journeyman exam.
Welder
Welders work in fabrication, ag equipment repair, and industrial maintenance across the Magic Valley. National median pay is about 8,940.1 Start with a 9-12 month welding technology certificate and add AWS process tests as you go.
Job growth uses state projections when available and national projections (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034) when state data is unavailable. Median pay for each trade is shown in the comparison table above.
Many college programs prep you for employer-specific weld tests.
CDL (Commercial Driving)
Meet Idaho Transportation Department requirements: DOT medical card, knowledge and skills tests, and Entry-Level Driver Training at an approved provider.
Helpful notes:
Many apprenticeships require 144 hours/year of related instruction. Your provider will guide you.
Background checks, drug testing, and a valid driver’s license are common employer requirements.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid apprenticeships: CSI, CWI, and ISU often deliver evening or hybrid classroom for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC apprentices while you work during the day. Ask about distance-friendly lecture with in-person labs.
Healthcare and office trades: Medical billing/coding, phlebotomy theory, and health information courses are often available online or hybrid through Idaho community colleges.4
OSHA, safety, and craft upskilling: Many schools and workforce centers offer short online modules for OSHA 10/30, blueprint reading, and math for trades. These are good add-ons before or during your program.
Self-paced exam prep: Use online practice tests for Idaho journeyman licensing while you log hours on the job. O*NET can help you review tasks and skill requirements for your target trade.5
How to Choose the Right Program
Verify accreditation and state approval. The schools above are accredited by NWCCU, NACCAS, or ACCSC as noted.46
Match program length to your goal. Fast-track options like lineworker, CDL, and cosmetology get you working quickly. Apprenticeships take longer but lead to higher licensing levels and pay.
Ask about career placement and employer partners. CSI and Idaho’s colleges maintain strong local links.
Confirm lab time and equipment. Welding booths, HVAC trainers, and electrical labs should reflect current jobsite tools.
Plan your license path now. If you want an Idaho journeyman card, choose a program that counts your hours and preps you for the exam.2
If you live in Jerome, start by touring College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. Ask about night classes, apprenticeships, and employer sponsors. Then compare one statewide option that fits your schedule. Pick a start date, register, and get on the job within months.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook and May 2023 wage data for Electricians, HVAC Technicians, Plumbers, and Welders. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL): Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC licensing requirements and applications. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 Technician Certification for handling refrigerants. ↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator: institutional profiles for College of Southern Idaho, Idaho State University, College of Western Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho, and Milan Institute of Cosmetology - Twin Falls. ↩︎↩︎
O*NET OnLine: Work activities, skills, and training pathways for Electricians, HVAC Mechanics, Plumbers, and Welders. ↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC): Northwest Lineman College accreditation listing. ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
