Vocational and Trade School Scholarships

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How to Make Vocational and Trade School Affordable with Scholarships?

Trade school scholarships and vocational school scholarships are a type of financial aid that you typically don’t repay. These scholarships may go to students attending technical, vocational or career colleges. Jobs in the skilled trades require targeted training, knowledge and ability. If you are looking for an affordable way to learn a trade, trade school scholarships could be very useful.

Vocational scholarships and technical school awards could also make your post secondary education more affordable. Recipients use scholarship funds to offset the cost of tuition, fees, housing and supplies. It all depends on the award amount.

Vocational schools are also called career, trade and technical schools. These schools tend to offer vocational programs which are occupation specific. Once you graduate with your diploma or certificate, you may be able to enter the workforce in your chosen trade. 

Many two year community colleges also offer trade programs with the option to pursue an associate degree. If choosing this route, you may be able to transfer credits to a four year college in order to go for a bachelor’s degree.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports the average total cost of a two year college is less than a four year one. For the 2018 to 20 19 academic year, a public 2 year school cost an average of $9,400 vs $14,600 at a public 4 year college. Both total costs were for students who lived off campus with family. Private schools and living on or off campus (not with family) may bring increase the cost of attendance.

Who Should Apply for Scholarships for Trade School?

Eligibility requirements for these scholarships for vocational students may vary. In general, they tend to be trade specific and for high school students who want to pursue an associate’s degree. Some awards are for students with unmet financial need. Others may look at your GPA and test scores. 

As long as you meet the provider’s criteria, you may apply. You also may need to submit proof of the following:

  • Enrollment as a full time student and high school graduate
  • Transcripts with your high school GPA
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Essay(s)
  • U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident

Types of Vocational and Trade School Scholarships

There are scholarship opportunities for vocational, technical or career colleges. Some trade school scholarships could be location specific. You may also find trade school scholarships for specific trade school programs. Dental assistant, radiology, vet tech, medical assistant, and coding are a few trades you may find scholarships. The Thomas T. and Christine Hegeman Wheatley Memorial Scholarship provides $800 in financial assistance for eligible Berks County, PA college students. Eligible applicants may use the funds to help pay for an education in EMT, paramedics, phlebotomy, or nursing. 

Are you studying car care and mechanics as your preferred trade? An award open to New Mexico high school seniors is the Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship. Eligible applicants may use the funds to cover required tools, equipment and tuition.

The construction trades include building and related fields. You may also find scholarships for trade school if you plan to be an electrician, plumber, HVAC, carpentry, brick layers and insulators. Scholarships in cosmetology may also offset the cost of learning about beauty and health. 

Many culinary schools may offer technical scholarships. Related trades include food service and hospitality.

10 Scholarships for Trade School You Should Apply for in 2021

Hoping to kick start your career by learning a trade? Check out these 10 scholarships for vocational and trade school. If you meet eligibility rules, apply now!

  1. Tylenol Future Care scholarship
  2. Find your Drive Automotive Technician Scholarship
  3. Veterans in Tech Scholarship 
  4. Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
  5. Miami Culinary Institute Scholarship
  6. Pearl Lemon Scholarship 
  7. Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Paralegal Scholarship
  8. Minerva Beauty Cosmetology Scholarship 
  9. American Legion Trade School Scholarship
  10. Keller Cosmetology Scholarship Program

Are There Vocational Scholarships for Women?

Yes, there are various vocational scholarships for women that you may qualify for. The Women in the Skilled Trades Scholarship is for female trade school students studying refrigeration. It offers up to $3,000 based on financial need. The award is on a first come, first served basis. You also must be a female student attending The Refrigeration School or RSI.

What are the Benefits of Attending a Trade School vs Four Year College?

Many of today’s fastest growing careers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics may not require a four year degree. Instead, an associate degree, diploma or certificate from a trade or vocational school could provide the necessary skills and education for these in demand jobs. Wondering if this path is for you? Consider these benefits: 

1. Affordability

A two year trade vs four year degree program typically costs less from the start. NCES reports the average total cost in 2018 to 2019, if you live off campus but not with family, a 2 year public school costs $18,300 vs $24,900 per year. That’s why you should consider applying for trade school scholarships if you qualify.

2. Technical degree programs may help get ready for the work force 

Many technical colleges may also offer education programs to enter the workforce and start earning a salary earlier. 

3. Vocational programs may boost your lifetime earnings

The more education you have, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the more money you are likely to earn. With a high school diploma, the median weekly earnings are $746 vs $887 with an associate’s degree in 2019. However, it’s slightly less with some college and no degree at $833 earnings.

4. Many trades are in demand

When a trade is in demand, it may mean more educational opportunity. For example, dental hygienists see a 6% job growth which is a faster outlook than the average for all occupations. 

5. Earn your degree faster

Depending on your course of study and degree program, you may earn an associate’s degree in less than two years. If you were an undergraduate student or graduate student, it may take more than four years to earn your bachelor’s degree.

List of Trade School and Vocational Scholarships

Check out our list of vocational and trade school scholarships worth $.

Microsoft Imagine Cup Scholarship

The Imagine Cup Games Competition is a global contest for the best new student games and the winning team will take home $50,000 (US). Create a desktop or tablet game using Windows, or a mobile game using Windows Phone, or a browser game using Windows Azure and you could win big at the Imagine Cup World Finals in Seattle. Many of our competitions are intended for teams, so you may also need to create a team to participate. If a competition requires a team, you’ll be able to pick your team right on the Submission page. If you don’t have a team yet, you can create one in just a few moments – you just need a team name and team country, and you’re ready to go. This competition is intended for a team of experienced coders. As part of this competition, you’ll submit a complete piece of software, usable by our judges, as well as supporting documentation.
Award Amount

Total:  $100000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 15, 2024

Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys Students in Need Scholarship

At Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys, we fiercely advocate for victims of personal injuries across the state of Texas from our headquarters in San Antonio. While contending with giant insurance companies and corporations, we strive to provide compassionate and intelligent service to each of our clients. In short, we treat each case like it is our only case. Our team spends nights and weekends working to obtain just outcomes for our clients, and we have a deep appreciation for dedication, determination, and hard work. Through our Alford & Clark Injury Attorneys Students in Need Scholarship, we aim to promote those ideals by supporting students who have overcome obstacles and demonstrated a need for financial assistance. Therefore, we award scholarships of $2,000 in the Fall and Spring semesters to qualified students interested in a career in law who can demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
Award Amount

Total:  $2000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 20, 2024

Brandon Wong & Associates Difference Makers Scholarship

Brandon Wong & Associates is a San Antonio-based family law firm founded on the principles of hard work and quality of representation. As a firm that practices exclusively in the area of family law, we have accumulated the depth of experience necessary to handle everything from a straightforward, uncontested divorce to high-conflict cases involving multiple contested issues, as well as high-asset matters where complex property division issues need to be addressed. With our experience representing clients from all walks of life, we can address unique concerns related to issues such as military divorce, spousal support, or business valuations.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 27, 2024

Single Parent Families – High School Scholarship

Embracing You Inc. is delighted to announce the High School Scholarship Program, which is dedicated to supporting the educational endeavors of high school seniors who are single parents or reside in single-parent households. We believe in the transformative power of education and want to assist those facing unique challenges on their journey to higher learning. We believe in fostering a brighter future through education. We encourage eligible students to apply and take a step toward achieving their educational goals.
Award Amount

Total:  $4500

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  May 30, 2024

The Bayar Fellowship

The Bayar Fellowship, established in 2020, is dedicated to finding, developing, and supporting the next generation of leaders. We aim to empower high school students from marginalized communities and low income backgrounds by providing them with the fundamental tools necessary to become leaders in their communities.
Award Amount

Total:  $64000

Awards:  8

Deadline

Deadline:  May 31, 2024

Smart Saving Scholarship

At the Gillman Bruton Capone Law Group, we understand the importance of financial stability. Through the Smart Saving Scholarship, we will reward one individual who has developed smart saving habits with $1,000 towards their education. Personal finance curriculum in public schools needs improvement. Most students go through high school without learning how to budget and save for the real world. Many young adults struggle with this, making their adjustment difficult to adulthood. Talking about finance, budgeting, and saving earlier is beneficial, leading to more people understanding the system and how to protect themselves. Still, the most challenging part after learning how is putting lessons into practice. We admire anyone’s ability to set aside everyday temptations and focus on planning their future, especially financially. This is why we started the Smart Saving Scholarship. Through this scholarship, we would like to raise awareness of the importance of saving and budgeting and the practice of passing those lessons down to children. The Smart Saving Scholarship is intended to award a student who has learned the importance of saving and has come up with practical ways of saving in their daily life. Students are invited to share how they learned financial responsibility and any tips they would pass on to younger generations.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 31, 2024

Ability Scholarship

At Solution Now Law Firm, we believe in the ability of everyone to achieve their goals. Car accident victims, post-combat veterans, and other affected individuals may doubt their abilities, but the right environment and support system can help them move forward. Working in injury law, we have seen the hurdles people with a disability face, but we continue to be inspired by those who use their disability as a strength. For that reason, we are proud to announce our Ability Scholarship!
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  May 31, 2024

James Kennedy Law One Tough Student Scholarship

At James Kennedy Law, we help our clients put up a tough fight against drunk drivers and other negligent parties who are responsible for their injuries. We know that it takes strength and resolve to overcome the effects of an accident with a drunk driver. With our One Tough Student Scholarship, we want to support college students who have been impacted by drunk driving and who want to join the fight against drunk driving in our society. Each semester, we offer two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to students in need. The funds can be used for tuition and other educational expenses at a college or university anywhere in the United States. Contact our scholarship team via email at [email protected].
Award Amount

Total:  $4000

Awards:  2

Deadline

Deadline:  June 05, 2024

Creativity Leads to Success Scholarship

1. ELIGIBILITY: Dixie Belle Paint Co. Scholarship contest is open to US citizens who are 18 years or older. Students must be attending college or grad school by Fall 2024. Current employees, officers, directors and agents of Sponsor and its related companies and members of their immediate families (defined as spouse, parents, siblings and children) and persons residing at the same address are not eligible to win. Void where prohibited. 2. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, beginning October 31, 2023, submit a complete scholarship Application online at the Sponsor’s Website no later than June 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Limit one (1) Application per person. Application must include name and contact information, background details, academic details, and a short original, previously unpublished written response to the following topic, “How has creativity helped you in problem solving?” (500 words or less). Your written response must be written in English, with correct spelling and grammar. No substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages will be accepted once you have submitted your original Application. Written responses that are obscene, pornographic, libelous or otherwise objectionable will be disqualified. All Applications become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for lost, late, misdirected, or unintelligible Applications. By submitting an Application, you fully and unconditionally accept and agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. 3. SELECTION OF FINALISTS: A qualified panel of judges will identify finalists on behalf of the Sponsor. Finalists will be notified on or about August 15, 2024. Sponsor is looking for eligible FINALISTS who follow directions and submit Applications that are well-written and clearly and creatively address the topics described above. Answers will be evaluated in the following proportions: writing ability (25%), creativity (25%), originality (25%), and overall excellence (25%). In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be in favor or the Applicant with the higher score for overall excellence. The finalists will be notified by e-mail.
Award Amount

Total:  $15000

Awards:  3

Deadline

Deadline:  June 15, 2024

Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship

At Hoggatt Injury Law, we are passionate about supporting workers and their families whose lives have been affected by work-related injuries. We know that workplace injuries can have far-reaching financial ramifications, including when it comes to a family’s ability to provide for their children’s educational expenses. We hope to help families address this challenge by offering a scholarship to the child of an employee who has been injured or killed in a work-related accident. The Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers Scholarship provides $1,000 to assist with a student’s tuition and other educational expenses at their chosen college or university anywhere in the United States.
Award Amount

Total:  $1000

Awards:  1

Deadline

Deadline:  June 24, 2024