About TradeBound
Our mission, methodology, and data sources.
Our Mission
TradeBound exists because finding honest information about trade schools is surprisingly hard. School websites are marketing materials. Rankings are often pay-to-play. Prospective students deserve real data about what programs cost, what graduates earn, and how many students actually finish.
We're building the resource we wish existed: a data-driven platform to help anyone exploring vocational education make a confident, informed decision.
Data Sources
NCES College Scorecard
The US Department of Education's College Scorecard provides federally-reported data on costs, completion rates, and graduate earnings for Title IV-eligible institutions.
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes median wages, job growth projections, and employment data by occupation. This is the foundation of our career pages.
NCES IPEDS
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System collects enrollment, staffing, and financial data from virtually all US postsecondary institutions.
Original Research
We conduct original analysis and data compilation for data points not available from federal sources.
How We Rank Schools
The TradeBound Rank is a composite score weighted across four factors:
Limitations & Disclaimers
Data is updated periodically and may not reflect the most current program offerings, costs, or outcomes. Earnings figures are median estimates. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on location, employer, and individual performance.
TradeBound does not receive referral fees from schools. We do not rank schools based on advertising or sponsorship.