Trade Schools in Michigan

The best trade schools offer comprehensive classroom training, hands-on training, and some form of job placement assistance, whether by the school’s reputation or through connection with industry partners.

Michigan is home to many top trade schools offering these benefits and more. Below, we look at some of the most prominent of them and what they have to offer.

However, before we dive into the list, we analyze some other important considerations regarding trade schools in Michigan. These include the average cost of attending a training program, a breakdown of these costs, financial aid options, and accreditation bodies and commissions to look out for.

Explore Trade Schools in Michigan by City:

• Trade Schools in Detroit.

Average Cost of Trade Schools in Michigan

Candidates attending trade schools in Michigan usually spend between $17,000 to $22,000 on their overall education costs. The tuition fees contribute most significantly to this cost, with around $14,000 - $22,000 being spent on tuition fees by trade students in the state every year.

The cost of books also plays a role, albeit less significantly, with around $500 - $1,000 yearly going in this direction. After tuition, accommodation fees and program-specific equipment are usually the other significant costs.

Trade school students in Michigan pay around $500 - $5,000 for program-specific equipment, while the cost of accommodation per year is between $1,200 - $1,800.

The cost of utilities and transportation are also important, albeit less significant, to consider.

Choosing a Trade School

It is important to know that trade schools charge differently, even for the same programs. There are various notable factors to remember, including the school’s variety of programs, its location within the state, and its accreditation status.

Some programs also involve a high level of specialization, necessitating more expensive equipment and contributing to higher equipment costs.

All these are things an aspiring business school student in Michigan must remember when choosing a training destination.

Financial Aid for Trade Schools in Michigan

While the cost of attending a trade school in Michigan is relatively lower than in some states and lower than that of attending conventional colleges and universities, candidates can reduce the cost even further.

They may do so by taking advantage of numerous scholarships and grants made available by different financial aid programs and initiatives. We take a look at some of these below.

• Trade school students in Michigan who graduated from a high school in the state with at least a 3.71 GPA may apply for the Daniel Gerber Sr. Medallion Scholarship. It awards up to $10,600 for four years. It is a merit-based scholarship.
• Clarence A. Buck Iles Scholarship offers varying amounts for building trade students in Saginaw County. The Saginaw Community Foundation organizes it.
• The Dallas-Plangetis Scholarship awards up to $1,000 to students from Washtenaw County with Type I diabetes. The Diabetes Scholars manage it. Vocational and trade school students qualify.
• Other notable mentions include the Kids’ Chance Michigan award for children of workers killed or injured in the workplace and the Tiderington Family Scholarship for residents of Saginaw County planning to attend a trade school.

Licensing and Accreditation for Trade Schools in Michigan

Many aspiring trade school students in Michigan need to check the accreditation status of their institution of choice, even though doing so is one of the most important things when choosing a training destination.

Accreditation is important to help candidates take advantage of financial aid opportunities and ensure high educational standards and better career prospects.

Accreditation for schools in the United States is usually done on a regional or national level. For regional accreditation, all schools in Michigan fall under the jurisdiction of the Higher Learning Commission.

For national accreditation, however, the accrediting agency concerned is the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Schools also seek programmatic accreditation for individual programs. Examples are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for nursing programs and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) for automotive programs.

Top Vocational Trade Schools in Michigan

Aspiring trade professionals in Michigan may consider the destinations below for top-quality vocational and technical training.

Notable Mentions

Other notable mentions include Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, Delta College in University Center, West Shore Community College in Scottsville, Montcalm Community College in Sidney, Bay College in Escanaba, Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, and Monroe County Community College in Monroe.