A trade school education offers invaluable practical skills, like problem solving and the opportunity to work with many different techniques, tools and technologies. Students who are undecided in what path to follow can use the trade school to help figure out what specialty to study.
10 Electrician Trade Schools
These are ten trade schools with electrician training programs available in the United States during 2016, with tuition data from the 2015-2016 school year:
| University | Location | Institution Type | Programs Offered** | Tuition (2015-2016)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dade College | Miami, FL | 4-year, Public | Certificate | $2,834 for in-state $9,661 for out-of-state |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | 4-year, Public | Apprenticeship, Certificate | $13,560 for in-state $36,360 for out-of-state |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $2,046 for in-state $7,830 for out-of-state |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood, CO | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $3,429 for in-state $13,145 for out-of-state |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $1,175 for in-state $5,855 for out-of-state |
| Manchester Community College | Manchester, NH | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $6,880 for in-state $15,040 for out-of-state |
| Dallas County Community College | Dallas, TX | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $59 per credit for in-county residents $111 per credit for out-of-county residents** |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing, MI | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $5,660 for in-state $8,300 for out-of-state |
| Metropolitan Community College | Omaha, NE | 2-year, Public | Apprenticeship, Certificate, Associate's degree | $2,745 for in-state $4,005 for out-of-state |
| Hawaii Community College | Hilo, HI | 2-year, Public | Certificate, Associate's degree | $2,940 for in-state $7,932 for out-of-state |
Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics, **School websites
School Selection Criteria
Trade schools are ideal for students still figuring out their career path, teaching them practical knowledge as an electrician ideal for many different fields. Some important considerations when choosing a school can be:
- Location and size are important to account for with different institutions, especially when thinking about where to work after graduation.
- Different schools may be more suited for different specializations, such as home security work or phone installation.
- Familiarize yourself with the specialties offered by various schools to match your interests.
- Job placement assistance is available at many schools and can be a deciding factor in school selection.
Electrician trade schools feature many different forms of education, from apprenticeships, to certificates, to degrees, most lasting between two and four years worth of study. Most of these will include a great deal of hands-on professional training and internships to teach practical skills, as well as the option to specialize in a specific field.
