Best Trade Schools in New Hampshire (2026)

New Hampshire’s economy depends on skilled workers in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and technology. Trade schools offer practical training to enter these fields quickly, often in less than two years. Whether you’re in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, or rural areas, accredited programs are available statewide.

Many schools in New Hampshire partner with local employers and apprenticeship programs to connect students with opportunities after graduation; timelines and outcomes vary by location and job market.


Best Trade Schools in New Hampshire

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools, ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Empire Beauty School-Hooksett

Hooksett, NH In-state option BOC Score 67.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 83.3%
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 206
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $35,339 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

NHTI-Concord's Community College

Concord, NH In-state option BOC Score 56.4
Tuition $7,200 in-state / $15,450 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 29.3%
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 226
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,056 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Manchester Community College

Manchester, NH In-state option BOC Score 54.0
Tuition $7,090 in-state / $15,340 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 41.3%
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 199
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,863 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth

Portsmouth, NH In-state option BOC Score 52.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 94.7%
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 42
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $31,050 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Lakes Region Community College

Laconia, NH In-state option BOC Score 52.5
Tuition $6,720 in-state / $14,970 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 46.2%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 84
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,311 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Empire Beauty School-Laconia

Laconia, NH In-state option BOC Score 49.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 64.3%
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 51
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $35,339 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Nashua Community College

Nashua, NH In-state option BOC Score 49.0
Tuition $7,140 in-state / $15,390 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 37.6%
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 78
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,792 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Empire Beauty School-Somersworth

Somersworth, NH In-state option BOC Score 45.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 66.7%
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 91
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $32,919 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Great Bay Community College

Portsmouth, NH In-state option BOC Score 44.3
Tuition $7,200 in-state / $15,450 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 33.5%
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 97
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,407 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

River Valley Community College

Claremont, NH In-state option BOC Score 44.2
Tuition $6,940 in-state / $15,190 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 21.9%
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 108
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,465 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Trade Schools by City in New Hampshire

Compare accredited trade schools in 12 New Hampshire cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in New Hampshire?

Manchester Community College is a top choice for welding, HVAC, electrical, and nursing. Nashua Community College and White Mountains Community College also offer excellent technical and healthcare programs.

Are New Hampshire community colleges considered trade schools?

Yes. Community colleges like MCC, NCC, and WMCC offer accredited, hands-on career training similar to trade schools.

What trades are in demand in New Hampshire in 2025?

Electricians, HVAC technicians, welders, automotive techs, nurses, and IT support specialists are in steady demand.


New Hampshire’s trade schools prepare students for essential careers through hands-on learning, industry-recognized credentials, and strong employer connections.



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)