Technical and Trade Schools NAICS 6115

Jul 10, 2026 - Strong Revenue Growth Reported

• US trade schools generated $19.1 billion in revenue in 2025, up 11.4% year-over-year, according to education-focused marketing and research firm Validated Insights. Trade schools were originally projected to see 6% annual revenue growth in 2025. Universal Technical Institute and Lincoln Tech, two of the nation’s largest for-profit operators, saw revenue increase 14% and 20% year-over-year, respectively.
• Many students are turning to more costly private technical and trade education options as free and low-cost routes like community colleges and union apprenticeships fill up, according to The Wall Street Journal. A nine-month cosmetology program in New Jersey, for instance, costs $17,000 while a 14-month aircraft maintenance program in Florida costs $40,000, according to a US Department of Education college affordability list. Enrollment at vocational-focused community colleges has soared nearly 20% since 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse show. US trade and technical school revenue hit $5.1 billion in the last quarter of 2025, up 41% from four years earlier, according to federal data cited by The Wall Street Journal.

• Trade occupations tend to have fewer layoffs than other industries, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in a high-paying profession like tech or business are four times more likely to experience a layoff than those in building, manufacturing, and similar jobs. Trade and vocational programs vary widely in cost. The average tuition at two-year institutions ranges from $4,000 per year at public institutions to $19,500 at private ones, according to The National Center for Education Statistics.
• Technical and trade school revenue increased 20.5% year over year and 5% quarter over quarter in Q5 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. Technical and trade school industry employment has rebounded following a steep, pandemic-driven drop in 2020 and is slightly above pre-pandemic levels in early 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Technical and trade school revenue is forecast to increase at a 1.32% compounded annual rate from 2026 to 2030, slower than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Institutions generate the majority of revenue by charging tuition and fees for technical and trade educational programs. Schools may also receive contributions, gifts, or grants from public or private sources.