Trade Schools in Illinois

Illinois is a wonderful state to pursue a trade program. The state boasts modern and well-respected trade schools and offers a straightforward path to securing employment as a trade worker along with reasonable salary and growth opportunities.

In the article below, we discuss everything an aspiring trade student in Illinois must know to make the right decisions every step of the way. This includes the average cost of attending trade schools in Illinois, the accreditation organizations to look out for, and the financial aid initiatives to take advantage of.

Lastly, candidates will also discover a comprehensive list containing only the most notable training schools in the state offering several top-quality trade and technical programs.

Explore Trade Schools in Illinois by City:

• Trade Schools in Chicago

Average Cost of Trade Schools in Illinois

The average cost of attending a trade school in Illinois can be split into the average cost of private schools and public schools.

For private trade schools, the total cost often amounts to between $16,500 and $31,500. For public trade schools, the total cost often amounts to between $9,000 and $14,500.

Comprised within the total cost is the average tuition cost of within $10,000 to $25,000 for private trade schools and within $3,000 to $8,000 for public trade schools; books and materials cost within $500 to $1,000 for both kinds of institutions, and equipment cost of within $500 to $5,000, also for both public and private trade schools in Illinois.

Factors Affecting Trade School Costs in Illinois

The following factors influence how much a student will end up paying to attend trade schools in Illinois, including on an institutional and a programmatic level:

• Location - The closer a school is to urban, industrial areas, the more expensive it tends to be.
• Specialization - Specialized programs usually incur higher education costs.
• Duration - The longer a trade program takes to complete, the more it costs.
• Profit Status - As seen from the figures above, for-profit private schools are more expensive than nonprofit public schools.

Financial Aid for Trade Schools in Illinois

Illinois trade school students may use any financial aid programs available to ease their education costs. These programs are usually organized by state and federal initiatives, some by private associations and individuals.

The following are some of the most notable alternatives in this regard.

• REEF Scholarship - The REEF Scholarship awards up to $2,000 for students pursuing real estate programs in Illinois. Candidates must be state residents and must be enrolled in an approved program.
• Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Scholarships - The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois offers more than 90 scholarships of varying amounts with varying conditions. Some of these are available for trade school students in the state.
• Kinnett Scholarship - offers up to $1,000 to Illinois residents, which can be used to attend vocational schools. The Northern Suburban Special Education District Foundation awards the scholarship.
• Dreams Scholarship - The Dream Scholarship is organized by the Anhelo Project and offers tuition fee coverage to Illinois students enrolled in universities and vocational programs.
• Edwardsville Community Foundation Scholarships - offers up to $1,500 to students in the school district, including those attending trade programs.

Licensing and Accreditation for Trade Schools in Illinois

Licensing and accreditation for trade schools in Illinois can be done on a state, national, and regional level. It also varies depending on whether a school is predominantly online-based or not.

Additionally, apart from the school’s accreditation, certain specific programs also need accreditation from national organizations in charge of accrediting that field of study.

The Higher Learning Commission is the predominant agent of interest for regional accreditation for trade schools in Illinois. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges is in charge of national accreditation.

An online school/program has to be accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. While there are many reasons for students to choose only accredited schools, the most important are educational standards, ease of employment, and ease of getting scholarships and grants.

Top Vocational Trade Schools in Illinois

Illinois’s aspiring trade/vocational students may consider some of the top-class trade schools below.

Notable Mentions

Other notable mentions include South Valley Community College in Dixon, Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Lakeland College in Mattoon, Elgin Community College in Elgin, Danville Area Community College in Danville, Black Hawk College in Moline, and Frontier Community College in Fairfield.