CDL Schools USA Index  /  Ohio  /  Columbus

Best CDL Schools in Columbus (2026)

An independent, government-verified ranking of 71 CDL training schools across the Columbus metro — scored on FMCSA verification, funding access, reputation, and the program factors students actually search for.
◆ The answer

The top-ranked CDL school in Columbus is Clark State College — FMCSA ELDT-verified. Of 71 schools indexed, 2 are verified against the federal FMCSA Training Provider Registry, 0 accept WIOA workforce funding, and 0 are approved for VA / GI Bill benefits. Verified tuition runs $20–$6,000.

Live · FMCSA + WIOA + VA + Yelp · as of 2026-07-29 · reproducible methodology below
Schools indexed
71
FMCSA verified
2 (3%)
WIOA-funded
0
VA / GI Bill
0
Onsite testing
0
Avg rating
—
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WIOA workforce-funded
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For veterans

VA / GI Bill approved
  1. none yet

Highest rated

by real students
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Trains on manual

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Second chance

record-friendly · school-stated
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Full index ranking · Columbus
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Government (50) Reputation (22) Student factors (20) Transparency (8)
#TierSchool & contactVerified badgesRatingScore ▾
1 C Clark State College
Springfield
+1 937-328-6054$6,000
✓ FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 18%36.9
2 C Clark State College
Springfield
+1 937-328-6054
✓ FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 9%34.7
3 D Student Transport
+1 260-349-7753
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 2 endo
 unrated
data 18%20.9
4 E Roadmaster Drivers School (COL)
Columbus
+1 800-831-1300
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 9%15.7
5 E TRUCKTRAILERPRO CDL SCHOOL LLC - COLUMBUS
Columbus
+1 937-888-0888
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 1 endo
 unrated
data 0%14.5
6 E ELDT Courses
+1 814-304-7635$20
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
7 E Safe Smart CDL Training
+1 713-816-0967
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
8 E Cheapest ELDT only 2500 for CDL
+1 609-666-4907$20
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
9 E ELDT Solutions - On Site CDL Training
+1 319-389-9178
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
10 E 1st Premier Trucking Academy
+1 601-658-9525
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
11 E Advanced CDL Solutions LLC
+1 816-547-9011
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 2 endo
 unrated
data 0%11.5
12 E 160 Driving Academy - Columbus Yard
Columbus
+1 614-285-3307
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
13 E Columbus City Schools Transportation
Columbus
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
14 E Unique Services Logistics Career Academy
Columbus
+1 614-806-7027
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
15 E Upper Arlington Schools
Upper Arlington
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
16 E Capital Transportation Academy, Inc
Columbus
+1 614-258-0400
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
17 E AB5 CDL TRANS
Columbus
+1 937-521-9675
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
18 E AK CDL Trucking Trans
Columbus
+1 614-780-2240
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
19 E INTERNATIONAL CDL SCHOOL
Columbus
+1 614-966-9107
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
20 E DB Truck Training
Columbus
+1 614-780-0005
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
21 E Swift Driving Academy OH
Columbus
+1 614-927-6210
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
22 E Southwestern City Schools
Grove City
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
23 E Hamilton Local Schools
Columbus
+1 614-491-8044
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
24 E JW3 CDL Training
Columbus
+1 419-230-7105
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
25 E Hilliard City Schools
Columbus
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
26 E Gahanna Jefferson Schools
Gahanna
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
27 E Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools
Gahanna
+1 614-751-7581
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
28 E 160 Driving Academy - Columbus Classroom
Hilliard
+1 614-285-3307
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
29 E Worthington City Schools
Columbus
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
30 E Reynoldsburg City Schools
Reynoldsburg
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
31 E Ohio Fire Academy
Reynoldsburg
+1 614-348-4068
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
32 E Dublin City Schools Transportation
Dublin
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
33 E Ancora for Central Ohio Technical College
Pataskala
+1 866-937-1850
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
34 E Southwest Licking Local Schools
Pataskala
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
35 E Delaware City Schools
Delaware
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
36 E Westfall Local Schools
Williamsport
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
37 E Liberty Union Local Schools
Baltimore
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
38 E Circleville City Schools
Circleville
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
39 E Amanda Clearcreek Schools
Amanda
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
40 E 7008 - Lancaster - OH - Summit School Services, LLC
Lancaster
+1 740-652-7228
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
41 E Granville Exempted Village Schools
Granville
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
42 E Buckeye Valley Schools
Delaware
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
43 E Lancaster City Schools
Lancaster
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
44 E Marysville Early College High School
Marysville
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
45 E Lakewood Local Schools
Hebron
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
46 E Logan Elm Local Schools
Circleville
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
47 E Heath City Schools
Heath
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
48 E Fairfield Union Schools
Lancaster
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
49 E Highland Local Schools
Marengo
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
50 E Northern Local Schools
Thornville
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
51 E Triad Local Schools
North Lewisburg
+1 937-484-1557
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
52 E North Fork Local Schools
Utica
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
53 E Southeastern Local Schools
South Charleston
+1 937-484-1557
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
54 E North Union Local Schools
Richwood
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
55 E Cardington Lincoln Local Schools
Cardington
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
56 E Urbana City Schools
Urbana
+1 937-484-1557
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
57 E Mount Gilead Exempted Village Schools
Mt Gilead
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
58 E Fredericktown Local Schools
Fredericktown
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
59 E River Valley Local Schools
Caledonia
+1 740-474-7529
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
60 E R3 IUOE Local 18 Apprenticeship and Training
Logan
+1 740-385-2567
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
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Questions students ask
What is the best CDL school in ${MET}?
By our composite index, Clark State College ranks first — FMCSA-verified. Rankings weight federal verification, funding access, reputation, and program fit.
Which Houston CDL schools accept WIOA funding?
0 indexed schools are on the Texas ETPL and accept WIOA workforce grants, including .
Which Houston CDL schools are VA / GI Bill approved?
0 are VA-approved for veterans, including . Verified against the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool.
Are these schools FMCSA-approved?
2 of 71 (3%) are verified on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry — required to legally train CDL drivers. Schools on the FMCSA removed list are excluded.
How is the ranking calculated?
A 100-point weighted composite: government verification 50, reputation 22, student-fit factors 20, transparency 8. Full weights and sources are published on the page. Pass-rate and placement claims are never scored.
How current is this ranking?
Refreshed quarterly from live government and review sources. This snapshot is as of 2026-07-29.
Methodology · Cited · Reproducible The CDL Schools USA Index — 100-point weighted composite. Legitimacy-weighted, because ELDT registration is federally required to train CDL drivers.
Government Trust Spine · 50 — FMCSA ELDT 25 · clean standing 8 · WIOA 7 · VA GI Bill 6 · onsite testing 4
Reputation · 22 — rating 14 · review volume 5 · sentiment 3
Student factors · 20 — manual 4 · endorsements 5 · placement 4 · financing 3 · lodging 2 · type 2
Transparency · 8 — verified contact 3 · claimed 3 · completeness 2
Sources: FMCSA Training Provider Registry · state WIOA/ETPL lists · VA GI Bill · Yelp. Pass-rate & placement claims are shown as context only, never scored (FTC fabrication risk). Coverage: 71 schools within 50 mi of Columbus; average data completeness 1% and rising as collection continues. Refreshed quarterly.
Cite this ranking: “CDL Schools USA Index — Columbus (2026),” CDL Schools USA, as of 2026-07-29. Underlying data available on request.
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