How to Get Financial Aid for Trade School Programs

There are many different ways you can pay for trade school. Read on to learn your options for financing your trade school education.

Updated on February 3, 2026

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Key Takeaways About Financial Aid for Trade School

FAFSA can cover accredited trade schools, making students eligible for federal loans, grants, and scholarships.
Trade school cost an average of $15,070 in 2022-23, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
State aid, employer tuition benefits, savings, and private loans are other ways to pay for trade school.

Whether you’re transitioning into a trade career or starting one for the first time, you may qualify for financial aid to lower the cost of an already affordable career path. Starting this year, Pell Grant eligibility extends to certificate programs as short as eight weeks.

However, even if you don’t qualify for the Pell Grant, there are even more options to earn trade credentials using financial aid you don’t have to pay back.

Hannah Dorfman, a welder and recipient of the Bring Back the Trades (BBT) Scholarship, said that her welding program was going to cost about $10,000. After federal financial student aid and scholarships, she lowered it to $3,000.

Ask a Trade School Student
What Advice Do You Have for Students Who Are Worried About Paying for Trade School?

“I encourage anyone to apply for scholarships, even if they think they might not get it, it is always worth a try.”

― Hannah Dorfman, Welder & BBT Scholarship Recipient

Dorfman also won scholarships from the American Welding Society and her local town to complete her two-year welding program for her Welding 1 and 2 certificates.

Learn how to minimize trade school costs through federal financial aid and other scholarships.

How to Get Financial Aid for Trade School

Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applying for scholarships, and exploring employer funding can help lower trade school costs.

Step 1: File the FAFSA

Filling out the FAFSA is your first step to qualifying for financial aid for colleges and trade or vocational schools. Once you complete the FAFSA, you’ll receive your Student Aid Index, which indicates your financial need and what federal grants and loans you qualify for. Make sure the trade school you’re attending is accredited and has a Federal School Code to qualify for federal financial aid. The lower your SAI, the more financial aid you may receive.

Here’s a small breakdown of the types of aid you’ll see for trade school:

Pell Grant: You can receive up to $7,395 for the 2025-26 school year through the Pell Grant for your education, depending on your SAI (financial need).
State Grants and Aid: Multiple states have their own scholarship programs you can qualify for by filing the FAFSA, including Georgia’s HOPE Career Grant for skilled workers in some trade programs.
Federal Loans: Federal student loans can subsidize your remaining costs after exhausting all other grants and private scholarships. These loans are made for education, but unlike grants and scholarships, you’ll have to pay them back.

Step 2: Apply for Private Scholarships and Grants

After applying for federal financial aid, pursue private scholarships and grants that you don’t have to pay back. Some scholarships are designed specifically for students going into the trades and may require different qualifications.

Non-governmental organizations and companies offer private scholarships. They typically can require your FAFSA information, GPA, and essays displaying your writing abilities and personal strengths.

For example, Dorfman found the Bring Back the Trades Scholarship through the company’s social media account.

She also identified other scholarships online and through her high school. To find these scholarships, either speak with a counselor about local opportunities, or search websites like the College Board, ScholarshipOwl, and Scholarships.com.

Step 3: Inquire About Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Employer tuition reimbursement programs are company-specific programs that can help pay for your schooling. Some companies will reimburse you for a certain amount of tuition for enrolling and graduating from programs that upskill you in relevant fields.

Also, see if your company allows for apprenticeship programs with the trades. These programs typically offer a mix of paid work experience under a mentor and classroom learning to earn a recognized credential. Depending on the field of work, your apprenticeship could last 1-3 years. Check out what your apprenticeships could look like in our guide to skilled trades apprenticeships and internships.

Step 4: Tap — Or Start — Your Savings

A new addition from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was the expansion of 529 savings plans to include trade programs. A 529 savings plan is an account that anyone over 18 can open for themselves or someone else to put money into and withdraw tax-free for educational expenses.

Trade students can use their 529 funds for credentials that:

Are accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, National Commission on Certifying Agencies, or American National Standards Institute
Are included in the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) directory of credentialing programs maintained by the Department of Defense or by any branch of the Armed Forces

If you’re under 18, see if your parents/guardians or any close family member or friend opened an account for you. If you’re over 18, you can start a savings account for yourself.

Step 5: Consider Private Student Loans

Sometimes, your trade program won’t qualify you for federal aid. In these cases, banks and other financial institutions issue private student loans. Private loans often feature higher interest rates and more limited repayment options than federal loans. However, students who do not qualify for enough federal loans to pay for trade school may want to consider private loans.

Some lenders, such as Sallie Mae and College Ave, offer private student loan options to cover the cost of attending trade school. Both offer multiple repayment options and varying interest rates, depending on personal factors and prevailing interest rates.

How Much Does Trade School Cost?

Trade school is typically much less expensive than a traditional four-year degree. In 2022-2023, the average annual cost of trade school was $15,070, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

In contrast, the average tuition and fees for a four-year degree was $20,727, totaling over $82,000 for a four-year program.

The cost of trade programs can vary based on your chosen field of study and where the program is being offered. Public trade schools and community colleges typically offer the most affordable programs, while for-profit schools are usually more expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid for Trade School

Does the FAFSA cover trade school?

Yes, by submitting the FAFSA and sending it to your prospective schools, you’ll qualify for federal financial aid packages based on your Student Aid Index (SAI). The One Big Beautiful Bill recently expanded the Pell Grant to include credentialing programs that are just eight weeks long.