Heavy Equipment Operator Schools in the United States

Heavy equipment operator training: excavators, dozers, loaders and graders.

The United States has 71 schools with heavy equipment programs in this directory: 68 public and 3 private. Together they graduated 1,131 students from these programs in the latest federal count.

Published program tuition runs from $3,321 to $15,050, with a median of $9,500 across the 4 programs that report a program price.

Graduates earned a median of $49,954 one year after finishing, where the Department of Education reports earnings for the program.

The largest programs by graduates are at Community College of Allegheny County, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College and Ivy Tech Community College.

71
Schools with this program
1,131
Graduates last year
$9,500
Median program tuition
$49,954
Median earnings, 1 yr after

Heavy Equipment Operator Schools by state

Largest heavy equipment operator schools

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$5,154
Graduates last year
73
Median earnings, 1 yr
$50,457
Type
Public

Butte College

Oroville, CA

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$1,374
Graduates last year
53
Median earnings, 1 yr
$35,652
Type
Public

Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Brainerd, MN

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$6,476
Graduates last year
48
Median earnings, 1 yr
$62,827
Type
Public

Utah State University

Logan, UT

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$9,412
Graduates last year
37
Median earnings, 1 yr
$44,602
Type
Public

Central Arizona College

Coolidge, AZ

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$2,250
Graduates last year
34
Type
Public

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, WI

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$4,980
Graduates last year
32
Median earnings, 1 yr
$72,265
Type
Public

Coastal Bend College

Beeville, TX

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$2,916
Graduates last year
30
Type
Public

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$7,622
Graduates last year
29
Type
Public

Santiago Canyon College

Orange, CA

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$1,160
Graduates last year
23
Type
Public

Fort Hays Tech North Central

Beloit, KS

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$7,910
Graduates last year
20
Median earnings, 1 yr
$45,093
Type
Public

Hocking College

Nelsonville, OH

Award
Associate degree and Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$5,690
Graduates last year
19
Type
Public

Coalinga College

Coalinga, CA

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$1,384
Graduates last year
17
Type
Public

Other states

States with fewer than 3 listings in this category are shown here instead of on their own page.

Arizona

Central Arizona College

Coolidge, AZ

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$2,250
Graduates last year
34
Type
Public

Arkansas

North Arkansas College

Harrison, AR

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$3,840
Graduates last year
16
Type
Public

Illinois

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$4,530
Type
Public

Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$5,154
Graduates last year
73
Median earnings, 1 yr
$50,457
Type
Public

Iowa

Kansas

Fort Hays Tech North Central

Beloit, KS

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$7,910
Graduates last year
20
Median earnings, 1 yr
$45,093
Type
Public

Kentucky

Maine

Minnesota

Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Brainerd, MN

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$6,476
Graduates last year
48
Median earnings, 1 yr
$62,827
Type
Public

Missouri

Nebraska

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$3,450
Graduates last year
5
Type
Public

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

South Dakota

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD

Award
Certificate and Associate degree
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$7,622
Graduates last year
29
Type
Public

Texas

Coastal Bend College

Beeville, TX

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$2,916
Graduates last year
30
Type
Public

Utah

Utah State University

Logan, UT

Award
Certificate
Tuition (in-state, yearly)
$9,412
Graduates last year
37
Median earnings, 1 yr
$44,602
Type
Public

Common questions

How much does heavy equipment training cost in the United States?

The median published tuition is $9,500 (range $3,321 to $15,050, 4 programs reporting). The lowest listed prices are at Pontotoc Technology Center ($3,321), Schuylkill Technology Center ($4,800) and Lehigh Career & Technical Institute ($14,200). Public community and technical colleges often charge less but report tuition per year rather than per program, so check each school's net price calculator.

How long does heavy equipment school take?

Programs that report a length take a median of 10 months to finish (3 to 15 months). Certificates are shorter; associate degrees usually take about two years.

How much do heavy equipment graduates earn?

Across 15 programs with reported outcomes, the median graduate earned $49,954 one year after finishing (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard). Earnings vary by program and local labor market.

Are there public heavy equipment programs in the United States?

Yes. 68 public schools offer it, including Central Arizona College, University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville, North Arkansas College, Bakersfield College and Butte College.

Data: U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2024-25 and College Scorecard (October 2026 release). How this directory is built.