Rosedale Technical College

Rosedale is all trades, all the time, with programs in Automotive Technology, Collision Repair, Carpentry, Construction Electricity, and Diesel Tech. There are 9 majors total, all designed to get students into the workforce quickly. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1, ensuring close supervision in shop classes. Notably, the school boasts a 78% retention rate—high for a technical college—suggesting students feel well-supported. Founded 75+ years ago, Rosedale has deep roots in Pittsburgh’s blue-collar economy, and its curriculum reflects industry demands, not theoretical fluff.

With 405 undergrads, Rosedale feels more like a tight-knit trade guild than a traditional college. The suburban Pittsburgh campus is no-frills, but the school offers affordable off-campus housing at Penn Commons in the city’s cultural district. Student activities lean practical: career fairs, tool-agent workshops, and monthly hands-on events. There’s no Greek life or D1 sports here—just students who want to master a craft and get to work. Reviews hint at a no-nonsense culture where weekends are for side jobs, not keggers.

Rosedale’s 81% graduation rate crushes the national average for two-year schools (35%), and its 85% on-time completion rate suggests students aren’t wasting time or money. Graduates report median earnings of $41,291 one year out—solid for programs that often take less than two years. The school’s 2022 employment rates (not publicly broken down by field) imply most grads land jobs quickly, likely in Pittsburgh’s robust trades sector. For a school that costs under $20K/year, that’s a rare ROI win in higher ed.

Tuition runs $19,760/year gross, but 78% of students receive aid, bringing the average net price to $15,372. Grants and scholarships cover 80% of costs for many, a rarity in the for-profit-heavy trade-school world. The school offers a Net Price Calculator to estimate true costs, and its website bluntly states: “It’s like having your own financial aid assistant.” For context, the average grad earns $41K within a year—meaning many repay their (relatively modest) loans fast.

In a higher-ed landscape obsessed with prestige, Rosedale is unapologetically vocational—and that’s its strength. Its 81% graduation rate and $41K early-career earnings prove it’s one of the few schools that actually prepares students for lucrative, in-demand jobs without drowning them in debt. The vibe is Pittsburgh-practical: no climbing walls, just wrench-turning, wire-stripping, and sawdust. For students who want to earn while they learn (and skip the liberal-arts gen eds), it’s a rare gem.