Best Trade Schools in New Jersey
- Trade schools are postsecondary institutions that teach specialized skills for a specific trade job.
- New Jersey is one of the highest-paying states for people employed in a trade job.
- Students enrolled in trade programs may still be eligible for financial aid, including federal grants, scholarships, and loans.
Although many people pursue higher education, a four-year college degree is not the only way to earn job security or a well-paying career. Some of the fastest-growing occupations only require a certificate or associate degree.
Those who choose a trade career can find highly skilled work with paid ongoing training. Plenty of trade jobs require a year or less of training, allowing people to enter their career field with little to no debt. Because trade jobs are in high demand, especially in New Jersey, many careers pay higher salaries.
Best New Jersey Trade Schools
Each program on the list will meet our criteria, being:
Rankings Methodology:
- Must offer less than one-year certifications
- Accredited
- Less than 18:1 faculty to student ratio
- Less than $35,000 in tuition costs
- Over 50% graduation rate
- Type: Private for-profit
- Cost: $13,164
- Location: Morris Plains, New Jersey
- Admission requirements: Admissions requirements include completing a pre-admissions questionnaire, a formal interview, and a campus tour. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, like a GED.
- Graduation requirements: Students must complete all required training hours by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology for their specific program, as well as any clinical hours. Students must pass any tests or practicum exams and pay all tuition and fees.
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS)
About the Program:
Artistic Academy of Hair Design provides classrooms that mimic a professional industry setting. The school provides students with a kit of professional tools and textbooks upon enrollment. Programs include full-time cosmetology and aesthetics and part-time aesthetics. Participants can graduate in as little as five months. All graduates receive employment counseling, and over 80% of the last graduating class found employment.
Other Notable New Jersey Trade Schools
- Adult and Continuing Education-BCTS
- Atlantic Beauty & Spa Academy LLC
- CAPRI Institute of Hair Design Clifton
- Empire Beauty School Bloomfield
- Fortis Institute Lawrenceville
- Lincoln Technical Institute South Plainfield
- Lincoln Technical Institute Union
- Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield
- Total Image Beauty Academy
Trade Jobs and Salaries in New Jersey
Out of all the job sectors, New Jersey’s trade, transportation, and utility sectors experienced some of the largest employment growth gains between December 2020 and December 2021. The following careers are some of the highest-employed trade jobs in New Jersey that only require postsecondary nondegree education.
Barber
- Projected employment growth, 2023-2033: 7%
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $35,080
- Although the national average salary for barbers is low, the annual mean wage for barbers in New Jersey is much higher, at$40,510. Many barbers can finish training in less than a year.
Dental Assistant
- Projected employment growth, 2023-2033: 8%
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $46,540
- In New Jersey, people without formal education or training can become unregistered dental assistants. Unregistered dental assistants can complete basic tasks under the supervision of a dentist. Those who complete a dental assistant program at an accredited school and pass a state exam can become registered dental assistants and earn more.
Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse
- Projected employment growth, 2023-2033: 3%
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $58,730
- You can earn your LPN or LVN credential in as little as seven months, although many programs average around a year. Continuing your education and advancing your degree in nursing is quite easy. Those who earn an LPN or LVN credential and wish to become registered nurses can find numerous LPN to BSN options.
HVAC Mechanics and Installer
- Projected employment growth, 2023-2033: 9%
- Median annual salary (May 2021): $57,300
- New Jersey is considered one of the top-ranking states for HVAC salaries. In May 2023, the annual mean wage for HVAC workers in New Jersey was $68,460. For the 2019-2020 academic year, the median wage for teachers in New Jersey, a career that requires at least a bachelor’s degree, was not much higher, at $70,815.
Ship Engineer
- Projected employment growth, 2023-2033: 3%
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $64,930
- For workers in the United States, the annual mean wage in 2023 was $64,930. Ship engineers not only make more than that, but the average salary for ship engineers in New Jersey is higher than the national average pay for ship engineers in the country.
Trade Schools in New Jersey
Trade schools, sometimes referred to as technical colleges, use hands-on learning to train students for a skilled trade career in a postsecondary setting. Trade schools are highly specialized, which means students primarily take courses that apply only to their focus of study and do not take general courses.
When you think of trades, your mind may jump to strenuous labor like welding, HVAC installation and repair, and carpentry. However, you can find trade jobs in various fields, including healthcare and cosmetology. Positions like dental hygienist, hair stylist, and radiation therapist are all trade jobs.
Trade careers are in high demand, and many offer competitive salaries without the debt a bachelor’s degree can cause. Graduates from New Jersey trade schools earn an average salary of $57,000. New Jersey even offers tuition-free trade school options for students who demonstrate a financial need.
Average Cost of Trade School in New Jersey
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of tuition and fees for an in-state four-year degree at a public university was $9,349 for the 2019-2020 academic year. In the same year, the in-state cost of tuition for a two-year college was only $3,377.
In New Jersey, the average cost of college is higher than the national average. A four-year degree costs an average of $14,360, whereas a two-year program is $4,780.
Financial Aid for Trade Schools in New Jersey
Depending on the program, full-time students enrolled in a trade school may be eligible for financial aid through FAFSA. Students can find scholarship opportunities specific to studying at a trade school. New Jersey also has grant and scholarship programs set aside for students studying at vocational schools.
Scholarships for New Jersey Programs
- Eligibility: Women and minorities who have an annual household income under $60,000 and are enrolled at an eligible New Jersey institution.
- Award amount: Up to $2,000 a year towards tuition costs
- Deadline: Must submit by New Jersey FAFSA deadlines (September 15th for incoming students, April 15th for following fall semesters)
- Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be citizens, eligible non-citizens, or be eligible to file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application.
- Eligibility: High school seniors who are legal citizens and residents of New Jersey are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants need to demonstrate a financial need as well as academic excellence.
- Award amount: Up to $6,000 and no more than $1,500 per school year towards tuition only
- Deadline: May 2023
- Children of employees for New Jersey Utilities Association (NJUA) companies are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
- Eligibility: High school seniors who are residents of southern New Jersey are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must be attending school to study real estate or a construction-related field like electrical, plumbing, and construction management.
- Award amount: Scholarship totals vary and may be applied towards tuition only
- Deadline: April 2023
- Applicants must attend school in or live in the following counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland. The scholarship is awarded as a check written directly to the college of attendance. Students may reapply each year.
Accreditations in New Jersey
When researching schools, you should research their accreditation status. A school that is accredited has gone through the voluntary process of having an agency evaluate its program and confirm the school meets the educational requirements and rigor for accreditation. Colleges and trade schools can be accredited.
Accredited schools are compared to similar programs across the United States. The most important thing to consider is that credits from an accredited college will only transfer to other accredited schools. Trade schools usually hold national accreditation.
Understanding each school’s accreditation status can help you make the best decision for furthering your education. Depending on the field, you may not be able to sit for the licensing exam if your program isn’t accredited.
Apprenticeships in New Jersey
Trade school graduates in New Jersey have the option of pursuing an apprenticeship program. Unlike internships, apprenticeships are paying, on-the-job training programs that follow a formal structure. Participants learn from experts in their field while gaining real-life experience working in a specialized career path.
High school students interested in pursuing a trade job can attend a vocational high school program before pursuing an apprenticeship. High schools may offer vocational programs either within their school building or by partnering with a local trade school. Students typically graduate with a high school diploma.
Frequently Asked Questions About Technical Schools in New Jersey
Students interested in attending a trade school have several options in New Jersey. According to the NCES, New Jersey has over 70 trade schools. If you factor in community colleges that offer trade programs to that list, New Jersey has more than 90 schools.
Several trade school jobs provide competitive salaries. New Jersey continues to rank high in pay for those working in trades. In 2021, New Jersey was ranked 5th in the nation as one of the highest-paying states for electricians, HVAC technicians, and plumbers.
According to New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the highest-paying trade school job in the state is diagnostic medical sonographer. In 2018, the average salary for sonographers in New Jersey was $77,100.
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