Before You
Sign.

ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges) accreditation is the most common in for-profit trade schools. It does not equal regional accreditation. Credits from an ACCSC-accredited school almost never transfer to a community college, state university, or union apprenticeship program. Ask specifically: 'Are you regionally accredited?' Almost none are.

Required to access federal student loans. Being on the list does not mean the school is legitimate or that the credential is recognized by employers. It means they can take your Title IV money.

If the answer is 'it depends' or 'most schools will accept them,' that is a no. Get it in writing or treat it as a no.

Schools are required to disclose this. If they hedge, quote a range, or refuse to provide a document, walk away. Low graduation rates mean a significant percentage of enrolled students are dropping out — often still carrying the debt.

Some schools count any employment — including jobs with no relation to the program — as a 'placement.' Ask: placed in a job in the field trained for, within 12 months of graduation. If they can't define it that specifically, the number is meaningless.

The CDR is the percentage of graduates (or dropouts) who default on their federal loans within three years of entering repayment. Schools are required to disclose this — it's also publicly searchable at studentaid.gov. A CDR above 15% is a major red flag. High CDRs indicate graduates aren't earning enough to repay what they borrowed.

The College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) has median earnings data by school and program for federally-funded schools. Look it up before the meeting. If the school's own numbers don't match the Scorecard, ask why.

If they offer references immediately, call them. If they hesitate, that tells you something. If they say they don't share contact information, ask them to have graduates contact you. Testimonials on the website are marketing.

Tuition is never the real number. Schools routinely break out fees, supply kits, and equipment costs separately. Get a complete itemized cost disclosure before signing anything.

Required disclosure under the Gainful Employment rule. If they won't provide it, it's available via the College Scorecard. Median debt above $20,000 for a program with median starting wages below $35,000 is a math problem you will be living with.

Make them calculate this with you in the room. Use the standard 10-year repayment. Then compare it to the median starting salary they claim graduates earn. If the payment exceeds 8–10% of monthly take-home, you are likely looking at financial distress.

You still owe it. Most of it. Even if you complete 20% of a program, you may owe the full loan amount with limited refund. Get the school's refund and withdrawal policy in writing.

Usually the answer is no, or 'it depends on the local.' Union apprenticeships almost always require starting from the beginning regardless of prior trade school training. This is important because it affects whether the credential competes with — or is simply separate from — an apprenticeship pathway.

Ask for the names of three specific employers in your market who have hired graduates in the last 12 months. Then call those employers and ask independently if they actively recruit from this school.

National average wages include markets with very high costs of living. Ask for local data. Then check it against Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for your metro area.

Get this in writing. A plumbing or electrician program that is more than 40% classroom time is not giving you the practical preparation the credential suggests.

Training rigs and simulators have their place, but the transition to real job conditions requires time on real equipment. Ask what specific tools, machinery, and materials are used in training — and whether they are current industry standard.

Instructors should have journeyman-level credentials and real field experience. Large class sizes with instructors who have no field background are a red flag.