Best Scholarships for Trade Schools: A quick and easy way to fulfilling jobs in industries like welding, plumbing, automotive technology, healthcare, and more is provided by trade schools.
Nevertheless, the expenses of tuition, equipment, and certification tests can still mount up even though trade programs are often less expensive than standard college degrees.
Scholarships for trade school students are extremely beneficial because they give them the necessary financial support so they can concentrate on their training without having to worry about accruing excessive debt.
There are numerous scholarships designed especially for vocational and technical education, regardless of your level of experience or desire to improve your abilities.
In this article, we’ve compiled top 10 best scholarships for trade school students that can help you pay for your education and invest in your future.
These opportunities are offered by organizations, foundations, and schools committed to supporting skilled trades and workforce development.
What is a Trade School?
A trade school or a vocational or technical school is an educational institution that prepares you for a particular career.
They offer a targeted curriculum that keeps the focus on the courses and information required for your desired career path. Trade schools, unlike a four-year college degree, focus on building students in a skilled trade, such as welding, cosmetology, mechanical, electrical, or health services.
They aim to educate students for the workforce in their chosen trade and, unlike colleges, do not require general education courses.
Trade schools enable you to receive training in your field using the equipment, supplies, and methods used by professionals. After completing trade school, you receive a diploma or certificate attesting to your readiness and competence.
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10 Best Scholarships for Trade Schools
Here are the top 10 best scholarships for Trade school students:
1. Women in Skilled Trades Scholarship
First on our list of best scholarships for trade school students available is the Women in Skilled Trades Scholarship.
This college scholarship program is specifically for women doing the RSI (Refrigeration School, Inc.) program who need financial support. RSI is a private institute in Phoenix, Arizona.
The school is focused on training students for careers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration (HVAC/R), solar, electrical technology, and welding.
This scholarship is worth $3,000, and a lot of students receive this every year. With this reward, you can foot the cost of attending this institute.
To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
2. Dave Russell Memorial Scholarship for Skilled Trades
Next on our list is the Dave Russell Memorial Scholarship for Skilled Trades. This vocational school is open for high school seniors interested in the trades Dave Russel studied, which is Auto Mechanics. This is because the school was established in honor of Dave Russell.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a New Jersey resident and a current trade school student. This scholarship is worth $6,000, and the application deadline is 31st July, 2025. Note, winners will be announced on August 30, 2025.
To apply, talk about the trade you’re pursuing, why you chose that career path, and how you want to inspire or assist others in the future when you apply. You can send your comment in as a video or in a few sentences.
To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
Apply Now
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3. Bassed in PLUR Scholarship
Bassed in PLUR Scholarship is one of the best trade school scholarships worth checking out. This scholarship is provided to support students who find inspiration in EDM and festival culture.
In the context of the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) culture, which promotes the ideals of Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect (PLUR), this scholarship honors the transformational potential of music festivals.
In addition to submitting a photo of oneself at an EDM performance or festival, applicants are invited to write an essay answering one or more prompts about their experiences with EDM or festival culture.
All other costs will be borne by the winner, who will also receive a VIP ticket to any Night Nation Run 2026 date and venue. The scholarship is worth $1,000, and the application deadline is 15 December. Note, winners will be announced on 14 January, 2026.
To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
Apply Now
4. Anthony McPherson Memorial Automotive Scholarship
Among the ongoing scholarships for trade school students in the Anthony McPherson Memorial Automotive Scholarship. This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Anthony McPherson, who died in a car accident because of the recklessness of a drunken driver.
The scholarship seeks to create awareness about drunk driving and also support students pursuing careers in the automotive industry. It’s open to high school and undergraduate students pursuing an automotive career or any career related to it.
This program is worth $2,750, and the application deadline is 9th November, 2025. The winners will be announced on the 8th of December.
To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
5. Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship
Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship is a trade school scholarship offered in memory of Destiny McClain, a generous person who genuinely cared about people. It is provided by Our Destiny Our Future Foundation.
The aim of this scholarship opportunity is to support people who are involved in community building and committed in impacting the communities at large.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a high school or undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Also, you must have shown academic dedication and a commitment to community service
Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship is worth $1,000, and two students get it every year. The application deadline is 1st July, and the winners will be announced on 31st July.
To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
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6. Aviation Technology Scholarship of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania
This scholarship for trade school students is provided by the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania. It’s specifically open to College and graduate students studying airframe, powerplant maintenance, avionics, or aerospace engineering.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be interested in building a career in Aviation and must also be residing in Pennsylvania. To apply, applicants must submit an essay and the FAFSA.
The application deadline is 7th July, and the scholarship is worth $1,000. To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
7. The CIRI Foundation (TCF) Vocational Training Grants
The CIRI Foundation (TCF) offers vocational training grants to applicants enrolled in technical skill training programs, earning a certificate/certification or professional license.
To be eligible for this scholarship program, you must have a High school diploma or GED. Also, be enrolled in Associate, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate, or pre-requisite courses for a degree program and have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Note, there are four deadlines for this vocational training grant, and awards cannot exceed $5500 per calendar year. The application deadline is 1st December 2025. To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
8. New Jersey Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship for Women & Minorities
For women passionate about construction, the New Jersey Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship is the right trade school scholarship for you.
This scholarship program offered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is specifically for women or minority group members in New Jersey’s county colleges or technical/vocational schools.
The minority group includes Black/African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American.
To be eligible, you must be pursuing a construction-related degree like architecture, engineering technology, carpentry, electrical trades, industrial technology, and more.
The scholarship is worth $2,000, and the application deadline is 1st December 2025. To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
9. Pureland Supply Vocational and Skilled Trade Scholarship
Pureland Supply Vocational and Skilled Trade Scholarship is one of the best scholarships for trade schools in the world.
This scholarship is sponsored by Pureland Supply, an organization that has supplied many colleges and governmental organizations with premium
Because they love and value people who have mastery in certain crafts and trades, they provide this scholarship in order to support them.
This program is specifically for students who have been accepted to a recognized technical school, vocational school, trade school, or community college to study trade, craft, or labor occupations.
This trade school scholarship is worth $500, and recipients will be selected based on their capacity to explain the significance of their chosen profession or trade in the modern world and the reasons behind their decision. To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
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10. Buy-Rite’s Annual Beauty School Scholarship
Last on our list of best scholarships for trade school students in USA is the Buy-Rite Beauty School Scholarship.
This scholarship is provided by Buy-Rite Beauty, a brand interested in promoting the hairstylist, cosmetology & beauty industry as a growing career field.
Over the years, they have made significant impacts in the beauty industry by working with local salons and donating products to beauty schools.
Through this scholarship program, they will be awarding a hairstylist with $1,000. To be eligible, you must be a hairstylist, esthetician, beautician, or cosmetology student and a U.S. resident. The application deadline for this scholarship is the 1st of November, 2025. To learn more about this trade school scholarship and how to apply, visit the official website.
FAQs About Best Scholarships for Trade Schools
What is Trade School?
A trade school or a vocational or technical school is an educational institution that prepares you for a particular career.
What are the Best Scholarships for Trade School students
Here are the top trade school scholarships:
1. Women in Skilled Trades Scholarship
2. Dave Russell Memorial Scholarship for Skilled Trades
3. Bassed in PLUR Scholarship
4. 4. Anthony McPherson Memorial Automotive Scholarship
5. Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship
Conclusion
Pursuing a trade education is a smart investment in a stable and rewarding future. With the help of scholarships, you can reduce financial stress and focus on gaining the skills needed to succeed in your chosen field. The scholarships listed in this article are excellent opportunities for trade school students to access funding and support.
Whether you’re studying to become an electrician, mechanic, nurse, or technician, there’s likely a scholarship that fits your path.
References
- Unigo.com- vocational and career college scholarship
- Scholarshipinstitute.org- trade school students
- Scholarships360.org –scholarships for trade schools
