How we rank technical schools and programs
The Foundry Index is our point of view on where a student can train for a skilled career and get an honest return. It's built on public federal data, and it isn't a government or accreditor standard.
What goes into a score
Each program gets a Foundry Score from 0 to 100, compared only with similar programs. These are the default weights; they shift a little by list.
- Earnings and returnWhat the program's graduates earn, and their debt compared with those earnings.30%
- CompletionThe share of students who finish on time.20%
- AffordabilityWhat students pay after grants, and typical debt at graduation.20%
- Credential qualityAccreditation, and licensure exam pass rates where an official source publishes them.20%
- Student experienceVerified student reviews. It counts once there are enough of them.0% today
What we won't fake
- No data, no rank. A program without published earnings is listed as "Emerging," never given a made-up rank.
- Small programs aren't punished. A small sample gets a note, not a lower rank.
- Outcomes are history, not a promise. The numbers describe past graduates, not this year's class.
Where the rankings live
The rankings themselves are inside the Foundry app, with Foundry+ or an access code from a student's school, and in Foundry Connect for school staff. This page explains the method; it doesn't publish the lists.
Sources: the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS), plus official licensure results where they're published.
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FERPA, Colorado law, and what we sign before any student gets a code.
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