Best Trade Schools in Maryland (2026)

Maryland’s trade economy is powered by its construction, healthcare, and transportation sectors. Whether you’re in Baltimore, Silver Spring, Salisbury, or Western Maryland, accredited trade schools across the state offer affordable training that prepares you for in-demand roles; outcomes vary by location and job market.

From CDL training to welding, HVAC, and medical programs, Maryland’s technical colleges and career institutes are preparing students for high-demand roles statewide.


Best Trade Schools In Maryland

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.

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.

#1

Frederick Community College

Frederick, MD In-state option BOC Score 71.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 36.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 60
  • Annual completions: 337
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,058 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

North American Trade Schools

Baltimore, MD In-state option BOC Score 63.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 69.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 1448
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,948 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Hagerstown Community College

Hagerstown, MD In-state option BOC Score 62.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 37.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 567
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,827 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Community College of Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD In-state option BOC Score 41.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 17.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 47
  • Annual completions: 1566
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,930 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia

Columbia, MD In-state option BOC Score 37.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 66.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 1289
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,136 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in Maryland?

Lincoln Tech and North American Trade Schools are excellent for HVAC, welding, and medical careers. CCBC offers affordable, accredited programs with strong employer partnerships.

Are Maryland community colleges considered trade schools?

Yes. Colleges like CCBC, Frederick Community College, and Hagerstown CC offer job-ready training in high-demand fields.

What trades are in demand in Maryland in 2025?

According to the Maryland Department of Labor and BLS:

  • HVAC Technicians
  • Welders
  • CDL Truck Drivers
  • Medical Assistants
  • Electricians
  • Plumbers
  • Dental Assistants

If you’re looking to start a high-demand career fast, Maryland trade schools offer the training and connections to help you succeed. Choose your path and get started today.


Trade Schools by City in Maryland

Compare accredited trade schools in 27 Maryland cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.


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/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)