Vocational Trade Schools in Mississippi

Trade schools offer career-focused programs that prepare students for specific occupations in skilled trades like plumbing, aviation mechanics, HVAC, and electronics technology and repair. Also referred to as vocational and tech schools, trade schools provide intensive practical training in addition to classroom instruction.

Due to socioeconomic factors and technological advancements, vocational schools have expanded their offerings to include programs in fields like multimedia animation, web design, and diagnostic technology.

Trade school programs usually take under two years to complete, with many lasting between 12-18 months. In addition to saving time, students save money, since they only have to pay tuition for up to two years.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 74% of students with an occupational credential from a vocational school find jobs that are directly related to their field of study after completing their program. By contrast, only 53% of students with academic credentials from four-year colleges find work in their major after graduation.

By offering short, career-focused programs and graduating skilled professionals, trade schools meet the educational needs of students and the occupational requirements of American workplaces.

Read on to learn more about trade schools in Mississippi and vocational education in general.

The following institutions are some of the best vocational schools in Mississippi. Read on to find out more about each school’s accreditation, available programs, online options, and scholarship opportunities.

Trade schools offer career-based programs with extensive fieldwork components. Colleges offer two-year and four-year degrees that incorporate general education and major courses.

The average cost of trade school is $33,000 for an entire program, or the equivalent of approximately one year of enrollment at a four-year university.

Examples of vocational jobs include aviation mechanics, dental hygienists, cosmetologists, barbers, and automotive technicians.

Some trade schools focus on technology and offer more programs in fields like computer programming and web design. Other trade schools offer programs in more traditional skilled trades like plumbing, auto repair, and welding.

Accreditation attests to the quality of a school’s educational programs. Postsecondary institutions, including vocational schools, community colleges, and private and public universities, voluntarily go through the accreditation process to demonstrate their commitment to providing quality education.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the accreditation process in the United States. Nonprofit universities typically seek regional accreditation. For-profit career-based schools, including trade and sectarian schools, often seek national accreditation. Programmatic accreditors evaluate specific programs instead of entire schools.

A school’s accreditation plays an important role for students who plan to apply for scholarships and grants to help pay for their education. The ED only channels federal financial aid through accredited institutions. In addition, accredited schools only accept credits for transfer if students earned them at another accredited institution.

The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges serves as the main accreditor for trade schools in Mississippi. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission accredits online schools and programs.

All states require schools within their borders to be licensed before they can open. While important, licensure does not equate to accreditation.

A license means a school meets the minimum state requirements to offer educational programs. Accreditation examines the quality of a school’s offerings to make sure they meet the rigor and standards established by the ED, CHEA, and the larger academic community.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for all trade school occupations is $59,370. Lucrative trade school occupations include electrical line installers, aircraft mechanics, and elevator installers and repairers.

As in most fields, job location impacts career options and salary levels. The states that hire the highest number of trade school graduates are as follows: Indiana (196,740), Tennessee (190,390), Alabama (130,840), Louisiana (129,370), and Iowa (108,690).

The BLS projects strong growth rates between 2023 and 2033 for plumbers (6%), HVAC technicians (9%), and electricians (11%). On the other hand, the BLS projects little to no change at all in the growth rates for automotive service technicians and air traffic controllers.

Vocational schools in Mississippi typically offer programs that support and address the needs of local industries and businesses. For example, trade schools in states with a thriving manufacturing sector tend to offer more programs in areas like industry automation, logistics, and transportation.

The following vocational programs represent a small sample of trade school offerings,

For many American students, the search for financial aid begins by completing the FAFSA. Most trade schools, community colleges, and universities rely on FAFSA information to determine each student’s eligibility for scholarships and grants. Private nonprofit organizations and several trade organizations that administer student financial aid programs also rely on FAFSA information in allotting financial aid to applicants.

Trade school students with demonstrable financial need can apply for Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. Students do not have to repay the money they receive from these programs as long as they meet and comply with the requirements.

When students must take out a loan, they should borrow from the government before approaching private lenders. Federal student loans often come with lower interest rates and deferment options.

Since they do not need to be repaid, scholarships are the best form of financial aid. Students enrolled in trade schools in Mississippi can begin their search for financial aid by exploring the scholarship programs below.