Trade Schools in Maine

As an aspiring trade professional in Maine, one of the most important decisions you’ll make throughout your career is choosing the right school to attend. Maine has several high-quality trade and technical schools with hundreds of quality programs.

Below, we provide a detailed list of some of the most prominent of these programs.

Before we dive into the list, however, we explore other important details, including the average cost of attending a trade school in Maine, the additional costs involved, and accrediting agencies to consider.

Candidates seeking financial assistance will also discover below popular scholarships and grants offering financial aid to trade school students in Maine.

Explore Trade Schools in Maine by City:

• Trade Schools in Portland

Average Cost of Trade Schools in Maine

An aspiring trade school student in Maine should expect to spend between $7,000 and $9,000 for their education if they attend a public trade school or between $19,000 and $36,000 if they attend a private trade school. We break down how we arrived at these figures below.

Cost of Attending a Trade School

First, several factors influence how much it will cost to attend a trade school in Maine. For instance, schools in urban areas that offer training in large areas/fields of study will cost more than those in rural areas and only offer a few programs.

Of course, whether or not a trade school is for-profit will also play a role.

Then, there are also program-specific factors, such as the duration of the program and its degree of specialization. All of these go on to influence individual costs, including the cost of equipment, books, materials, and so on.

Breaking Down the Cost

The tuition fees contribute to the total cost of attending a trade school in Maine, which can range between $6,000 and $8,000 for public schools or $18,000 to $35,000 for private schools. The cost of books at $500 to $1,000 also plays a role, as does the cost of equipment at $500 to $5,000.

Other notable costs include student fees, extracurriculars, accommodation, and transportation, among others.

Financial Aid for Trade Schools in Maine

Trade school students in Maine can take advantage of various financial aid programs to alleviate part or all of their education costs. Some of the scholarships and grants below are designed specifically for trade and vocational students in the state, while some are for general postsecondary education, of which vocational schools are a part.

• Maine Community Foundation Scholarships - offers varying amounts of money to residents of Maine who are enrolled in approved trade schools.
• Maine Island Scholarship - The Island Institute offers the Maine Island Scholarship and awards up to $2,500 for trade school students from Maine’s islands. It is a need-based scholarship.
• AGC Maine Education Foundation Scholarship - The AGC Maine Education Foundation Scholarship is available to residents of Maine attending an approved school and enrolled in a construction-related program. It offers up to $ 3000 for accepted candidates.
• Futurama Foundation Scholarship - is awarded to women demonstrating financial need and enrolled in a postsecondary school in Maine.
• Richard A. Pierce Memorial Scholarship - Available to Maine residents enrolled in a two-year program. Offers $5,000 in financial assistance. Candidates must send in a personal essay and two letters of recommendation to qualify.

Licensing and Accreditation for Trade Schools in Maine

Regional accreditation for trade schools in Maine is carried out by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The commission accredits colleges and universities that can meet high standards.

For national accreditation of trade schools in Maine, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges is the commission in charge. The ACCSC accredits several private trade schools in the state.

Another accrediting agency to know is the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which grants accreditation to online schools in the state.

Lastly, Maine trade schools must register and be licensed by the Maine Department of Education. Candidates can also find out whether or not the department registers a school.

Top Vocational Trade Schools in Maine

Below are some of the top trade schools in Maine.

Notable Mentions

Other notable mentions include:

• The Landing School of Boat Building and Design in Arundel,
• Northeast Technical Institute in Scarborough, Bangor, and Auburn,
• Mid-Coast School of Technology in Rockland,
• Caribou Technology Center in Caribou,
• Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology in Machias,
• United Technologies Center in East Hartford, Windsor, and Bridgeport.