Is New Castle School of Trades worth it?

The numbers behind the score

At New Castle School of Trades, a typical graduate carries about $9,397 in student debt and earns roughly $48,765 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $107 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.

How earnings compare to a high school diploma

Graduates earn $17,038 more than the typical working high school graduate in Pennsylvania ($31,727) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties each undergraduate program's federal loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.

The national figure is $31,269. The Department of Education uses it instead of the state figure when fewer than half of a school's students come from its state.

68% of former students here earned more than the typical high school graduate ten years after entry, by College Scorecard's own measure.

Context, not a federal determination. The benchmarks are the Department of Education's published thresholds (2024 notice, based on 2022 Census data); thresholds under the 2026 rule have not been released yet. The official test looks at each program's graduates four years after completion; our figure is College Scorecard's median for the whole school, ten years after entry. How this works

Program earnings vs. the federal benchmark

Median earnings of working graduates four years after finishing each undergraduate program, next to the benchmark the federal earnings test uses: the typical working high school graduate aged 25–34 in Pennsylvania ($31,727).

• Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection

  Certificate · 20 working graduates counted

  $25,187

  $6,540 below the benchmark

• Precision Metal Working

  Certificate · 84 working graduates counted

  $42,304

  $10,577 above the benchmark

• Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

  Associate degree · 108 working graduates counted

  $49,887

  $18,160 above the benchmark

• Ground Transportation

  Certificate · 73 working graduates counted

  $52,611

  $20,884 above the benchmark

• Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

  Associate degree · 78 working graduates counted

  $53,648

  $21,921 above the benchmark

• Electrical and Power Transmission Installers

  Associate degree · 109 working graduates counted

  $54,636

  $22,909 above the benchmark

• Precision Metal Working

  Associate degree · 35 working graduates counted

  $56,532

  $24,805 above the benchmark

• Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

  Associate degree · 46 working graduates counted

  $63,098

  $31,371 above the benchmark

3 other undergraduate programs here have no four-year earnings figure, usually because too few graduates were counted to publish one. That says nothing about how those programs do. See every program on College Scorecard

An estimate, not an official determination. Under a federal rule taking effect July 1, 2027, programs below this benchmark in official results may face limits on federal student loans; Pell Grants are not affected. The official test uses finer program categories, different graduating classes and the Department's own records; its first results are expected in 2027. Programs that train for tipped jobs, such as cosmetology and massage, won't be rated on 2025 earnings, and the Department decides which programs qualify. Earnings: College Scorecard field-of-study data (released Oct 15, 2026). Benchmark: Department of Education published thresholds (2024 notice).

Represent New Castle School of Trades and think a figure here is wrong? Request a correction and we'll check it against the latest College Scorecard release.

What this means for your family

New Castle School of Trades is a two year school in New Castle, PA. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.

Common questions about New Castle School of Trades

The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →