The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is proud to announce that 43 of its accredited institutions have been recognized on USA Today’s 2025 list of America’s Top 250 Vocational Schools. The distinguished list includes 26 individual institutions as well as 17 campuses of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT), underscoring the strength, quality, and impact of COE-accredited institutions nationwide. The following COE accredited institutions earned recognition on this year’s USA Today list:

• Academy of Careers and Technology (WV)

• Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AK)

• Ayers Career College (LA)

• CBT Technology Institute- Flagler Main Campus (FL)

• CBT Technology Institute Hialeah (FL)

• Charlotte Technical College (FL)

• Delta College (LA)

• Emily Griffith Technical College (CO)

• Erie 1 BOCES (NY)

• Erwin Technical College (FL)

• First Coast Technical College (FL)

• Hacienda La Puente Adult Education (CA)

• Healthcare Career College (CA)

• James Rumsey Technical Institute (WV)

• Lake Technical College (FL)

• Lorenzo Walker Technical College (FL)

• Manatee Technical College (FL)

• Mayfield College (CA)

• Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MI)

• Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (LA)

• Pickens Technical College (CO)

• Pinellas Technical College -Clearwater Campus (FL)

• Pinellas Technical College -Saint Peterburg Campus (FL)

• Radford M. Locklin Technical College (FL)

• Ridge Technical College (FL)

• Sheridan Technical College (FL)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Athens (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Crossville (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Crump (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Dickson (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Elizabethton (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Harriman (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Hartsville (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Jacksboro (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Jackson (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Livingston (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- McKenzie (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- McMinnville (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Memphis (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Morristown (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Nashville (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Northwest (TN)

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Shelbyville (TN)

• Texas Health School (TX)

• Tom P. Haney Technical College (FL)

“This recognition is a powerful affirmation of the role COE-accredited institutions play in preparing America’s workforce,” said Dr. Kirk A. Nooks, President and CEO of the Council on Occupational

Education. “We are proud to see so many of our schools represented on USA Today’s list, and we celebrate their dedication to excellence in career and technical education. Their achievements reflect the commitment of faculty, staff, and leadership to provide students with skills that directly translate into opportunity and success.”

The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) in particular, continues to demonstrate its leadership in career and technical education, with all 17 of its campuses earning a spot on this year’s list. These institutions, alongside other COE-accredited schools recognized by USA Today, serve as models for innovation, student success, and workforce development. “As Chair of the Commission for the Council on Occupational Education and President of TCAT Memphis, it is a privilege to congratulate the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology recognized among USA Today’s Top 250 Vocational Schools. This distinction underscores the national reputation of COE-accredited institutions for academic quality, workforce relevance, and student success. The recognition of 17 TCATs reflects a statewide commitment to excellence in technical education and affirms the important role these institutions play in preparing highly skilled graduates who strengthen both local communities and the national economy,” said Gwen Sutton.

Being named among America’s Top Vocational Schools reaffirms the national leadership of COE accredited institutions. As the demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, these schools remain committed to equipping students with the education and training that fuel economic growth and opportunity.