Best Trade Schools in Michigan

Updated on August 10, 2022

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Trade schools provide access to some of the most in-demand and rewarding careers. Check out what the best trade schools in Michigan have to offer.

Trade careers feature growth and salaries that can rival or surpass bachelor’s degree jobs.
Michigan’s over 60 trade schools fuel the state’s extensive blue collar workforce.
Trade schools in Michigan provide many financial aid options, including scholarships.
Michigan trade schools and programs need accreditation in fields with mandated licensure.

Trade schools offer career-based technical training in specialized skilled trades. These programs typically take less than two years to complete, cost less than full degrees, and provide direct access to the workforce.

According to the College Navigator from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Michigan has more than 60 schools that offer two-year or less programs. Here, we look at the available trade jobs and best trade schools in Michigan.

Trade Jobs and Salaries in Michigan

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following jobs have some of the highest employment numbers in the state. These careers can be accessed without a postsecondary degree education. We also outline the projected growth rates and median annual salaries for each position.

Dental Hygienist

Projected Employment Growth (2020-2030): 11%
Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $77,810
Earn nearly $200 more per week than the median wages for bachelor’s graduates

Cardiovascular Technician

Projected Employment Growth (2020-2030): 14%
Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $75,380
Earn just under $150 more per week than the median wages for bachelor’s graduates

Truck Driver

Projected Employment Growth (2020-2030): 6%
Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $48,310
Earn a similar wage to the median annual wages for all occupations

Trade Schools in Michigan

Trade school programs feature more specialized and career-focused training than traditional postsecondary programs. The studies omit general education coursework in favor of hands-on training for a specific trade. Tradespeople provide us with many essential services, including automotive, construction, plumbing, and HVAC work.

According to NCES, there are 63 Michigan trade schools, including institutions for cosmetology, boat building, aviation, and medical education. The Center for Economic and Policy Research’s most recent Blue Collar Job Tracker reported that Michigan had the fifth-highest percentage of blue collar jobs in the country in 2016, a positive sign for prospective tradespeople.

Average Cost of Trade School in Michigan

To get an average cost of trade schools in Michigan, we looked at programs lasting less than two years. These schools have an average annual tuition of $12,735, as per the Education Data Initiative. Comparatively, the average annual tuition at four-year schools was $13,315 in Michigan’s public schools and $29,405 in private schools in 2019-20, as per NCES data.

According to the BLS, professionals with some college but no degree made a weekly average of $877 in 2020, whereas bachelor’s graduates made $1,305. That suggests that trade school graduates take about 14-29 weeks to earn what they paid for their training, depending on the program length. Conversely, bachelor’s graduates need between 40-90 weeks to earn what they paid for their training, depending on whether they attended public or private school.

Financial Aid for Trade Schools in Michigan

Michigan trade schools offer several financial aid options for their students, including federal aid programs, loans, and scholarships. Scholarships usually offer awards to promising students or those with financial need. The following are just a few of the available scholarship programs for Michigan students.

Scholarships for Trade Programs

William Cayen Skilled Trades Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students enrolled in a skilled trade program in Oakland, Macomb, or Wayne County. They also need a 2.5 minimum GPA to qualify.
Four $2,500 awards
Deadline to Apply: March
Applicants must submit a short essay and letters of recommendation for consideration. They also need to be members or become members of the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union.

Scholarships for Welding Programs

American Welding Society Welder Training Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students from the AWS district attending a trade school for welder training.
Up to 25 $1,000 awarded in each district
Deadline to Apply: November
Only students in a certificate program less than two years in length qualify.

Scholarships for Construction Programs

Greater Michigan Construction Academy Scholarship
This scholarship is available to new high school or GED graduates attending the Greater Michigan Construction Academy in a craft training program.
Covers tuition and book costs for the first year of training
Deadline to Apply: March
Candidates must submit two recommendation letters. The scholarship committee will evaluate candidates on their grades, attendance, skills, extracurricular activities, and awards.

In most cases, scholarship funds do not require repayment, and some programs offer renewable funds for multiple semesters or years. Scholarships may come from the government, private organizations, or schools. Applicants should pay close attention to the application requirements, as they vary by program.

For more information on paying for trade school, check here: Vocational Education Financial Aid

Accreditations in Michigan

Trade schools in Michigan have several accreditations depending on their field. Some possible organizations include the Council on Occupational Education, the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Other institutional accreditation organizations specialize in certain fields, such as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Institutional accreditation in trade schools helps assure students that they will receive a high-quality education recognized by the industry.

Programmatic accreditation or recognition may also be available and required by certain industries. For example, accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or approval from the Federal Aviation Administration may be required for postgraduate licensure.

Apprenticeships in Michigan

In addition to trade schools in Michigan, aspiring tradespeople can pursue apprenticeships. These programs combine on-the-job training and coursework to help provide practical and career-specific skills. The MI-Apprenticeship program connects students with employers and mentors in many industries, including healthcare, automation, and information technology.

Trade high schools and programs for high school students are also available in Michigan. These programs and institutions help prepare students for career and technical training or allow them to access the workforce directly after high school.

Best Michigan Trade Schools

Each program on the list will meet our criteria, being:

Rankings Methodology:

Must offer less than one-year certifications
Accredited
Less than 18-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio
Less than $35,000 in tuition

Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $2,846
Location: Southfield, Michigan
Admission requirements: Applicants need a high school or GED diploma.
Graduation requirements: Graduates must complete 39-60 credits and the certification exams if applicable.
Accreditation: The school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

About the Program:

Abcott Institute enrolls nearly 150 undergraduate students in its medical assistant, practical nurse, surgical technician, and HVAC/R systems technician programs. The school also serves as a medical testing center for various assessments and examinations.

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Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $14,771
Location: Troy, Michigan
Admission requirements: Applicants need a high school or GED diploma, plus completed entrance examinations if applicable.
Graduation requirements: Graduates must complete the course and clinical requirements, plus their licensure examinations if applicable.
Accreditation: The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and the programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

About the Program:

Carnegie Institute enrolls more than 120 students and offers 11 programs, including massage therapy, cardiology technician, medical assistant, and medical business specialist.

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Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $26,050
Location: Cedarville, Michigan
Admission requirements: Applicants need a high school or GED diploma and an interview for admission.
Graduation requirements: Graduates must complete the required number of credits and instruction hours while also demonstrating mastery over the material.
Accreditation: The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Career Schools and Colleges.

About the Program:

The Great Lakes Boat Building School enrolls about 20 students and offers three programs. They include a comprehensive career boat building program, a marine service technology program, and a small engine program.

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Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $30,382
Location: Southfield, Michigan
Admission requirements: Applicants need a high school or GED diploma for admission.
Graduation requirements: Graduates must complete 700 instructional hours to graduate, including 75 clinical hours.
Accreditation: The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.

About the Program:

Irene’s Myomassology Institute enrolls more than 250 students in its massage therapy and therapeutic massage programs. The school also provides continuing education courses for professionals to maintain licensure.

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Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $16,076
Location: Canton, Michigan
Admission requirements: Applicants need a high school or GED diploma for admission.
Graduation requirements: Students must complete the required instruction hours to graduate.
Accreditation: The school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences.

About the Program:

L’esprit Academy enrolls about 200 students in its programs for manicuring, esthetics, and cosmetology. The school offers part-time and full-time courses, plus distance learning options.

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Other Notable Michigan Trade Schools

The cost of training in Michigan trade schools can vary considerably by institution and program. According to NCES, 53 of 63 trade schools in the state have tuition below $20,000. Eight of the schools have tuition that falls below $10,000.

Trade school students can justify the training costs with the combination of short training and near-instant workforce access. They can also access several financial aid options to help pay for their studies.

Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity projects more than 530,000 jobs in the professional trades by 2028, plus nearly 50,000 annual job openings. The most in-demand trade fields include construction, healthcare, information technology, energy, and manufacturing.

In response to the growing demand, many trade schools in Michigan offer targeted programs for these fields. For example, prospective students can find programs in construction, medical assisting, robotics, and energy technician.

According to the BLS, the highest-paying trade job in Michigan is likely an airplane pilot or copilot. These professionals made annual mean wages of $214,640 in May 2021. While they may need years of experience to acquire these salaries, learners can get basic training from trade schools.

Other high-paying trade jobs in Michigan include nuclear power plant operators, nuclear technicians, medical dosimetrists, and construction managers. While the job requirements vary by employer, each of these professions earned mean annual wages above $100,000 in May 2021.