Best institutions to study Railroad and Railway Transportation
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the operation of railroads and other aspects of the railway industry, including railroad and railyard service.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 87 Railroad and Railway Transportation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 49.0208, a specialization of Ground Transportation (CIP 49.02), and leads most directly to the Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters occupation (BLS SOC 53-4031).
About Railroad and Railway Transportation programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the operation of railroads and other aspects of the railway industry, including railroad and railyard service. Includes instruction in railway culture, operating skills, General Code of Operation rules, conductor service, signal systems, switching, transportation of hazardous materials, safety, and railway telecommunications systems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Railroad and Railway Transportation program prepares individuals for careers in the railway industry by equipping them with technical knowledge and operational skills. This program focuses on various aspects of railroad operations, including conductor service, signal systems, and safety protocols, making it ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in ground transportation.
Students will gain essential skills in areas such as monitoring, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework covers topics like railway culture, General Code of Operation rules, and the transportation of hazardous materials, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the demands of the industry.
Credentials awarded
What Railroad and Railway Transportation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year85 graduates / yr · 1 institution98%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.3%
Graduates over time
Railroad and Railway Transportation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 337 |
| 2013 | 268 |
| 2014 | 283 |
| 2015 | 399 |
| 2016 | 307 |
| 2017 | 466 |
| 2018 | 286 |
| 2019 | 217 |
| 2020 | 171 |
| 2021 | 102 |
| 2022 | 102 |
| 2023 | 57 |
| 2024 | 78 |
| 2025 | 87 |
Top 1 institutions for Railroad and Railway Transportation, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 87 | 31% | — | $74,114 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ground Transportation field (CIP 49.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 1 states
Where Railroad and Railway Transportation graduates come from. Each state links to all Ground Transportation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 1 | 87 | Johnson County Community College87 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 53-4031, Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Railroad and Railway Transportation program can pursue careers as Railroad Conductors, Locomotive Engineers, and Yardmasters, among others. The job outlook shows a growth of 1.1% with approximately 3,100 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is around $74,080, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 49.0208
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Railroad Conductors and Yardmastersprimary SOC 53-4031 | $78,000 | +1.1% Little or no change | ~3,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Locomotive Engineers SOC 53-4011 | $81,410 | +0.7% Little or no change | ~2,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers SOC 53-4022 | $68,840 | +1.0% Little or no change | ~1,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Subway and Streetcar Operators SOC 53-4041 | $86,380 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers SOC 53-4013 | $60,600 | +0.3% Little or no change | ~200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Rail Transportation Workers, All Other SOC 53-4099 | $56,360 | +3.9% About as fast as average | ~200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
SOC 53-1043 | — | — | — | — |
SOC 53-1049 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Railroad and Railway Transportation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
- Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
- Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
- Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
- Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
- Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
Tools and technology used
Other Ground Transportation specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ground Transportation (CIP 49.02).
- Truck and Bus Driver/CIP 49.0205
Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor 17,965 graduates / yr232 institutions - Construction/CIP 49.0202
Heavy Equipment/ Earthmoving Equipment Operation 1,010 graduates / yr50 institutions - Forklift Operation/CIP 49.0209
Operator partial data318 graduates / yr3 institutions - Ground TransportationCIP 49.0299partial data109 graduates / yr7 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Mobil Crane Operator/
Operation49.0206 - Flagging and Traffic Control49.0207
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What types of jobs can I get with this program?+
Graduates can work as Railroad Conductors, Locomotive Engineers, Yardmasters, and more.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills such as monitoring, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change with a growth rate of 1.1%.
What is the typical education requirement?+
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
What is the CIP code for Railroad and Railway Transportation?+
Railroad and Railway Transportation is CIP 49.0208 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ground Transportation (CIP 49.02). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the operation of railroads and other aspects of the railway industry, including railroad and railyard service. Includes instruction in railway culture, operating skills, General Code of Operation rules, conductor service, signal systems, switching, transportation of hazardous materials, safety, and railway telecommunications systems.
How many institutions offer Railroad and Railway Transportation programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Railroad and Railway Transportation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 87 credentials in the year. That is 0.4% of all Ground Transportation graduates.
How much do Railroad and Railway Transportation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters occupation, which Railroad and Railway Transportation most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,000 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ground Transportation field report median earnings of $74,114 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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