Vocational Trade Schools in Missouri

Trade schools offer career-focused programs that prepare graduates for specific occupations. Students graduate with workplace-ready skills in a variety of trades such as aviation mechanics, plumbing, or cosmetology.

Similar to vocational and tech schools, trade schools offer programs that typically take 1-2 years to complete. Some offer two-year associate degrees but most offer certificate and diploma programs that learners can complete sooner.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that 51% of undergraduate credentials awarded in 2015 consisted of sub-baccalaureate programs, which include trade school certificates and diplomas. Graduates with occupational credentials also experience lower unemployment rates than their counterparts holding academic credentials, such as a four-year bachelor’s degree.

Recognizing the role that trade school graduates play on the national economical stage, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education maintains several funding programs for students pursuing vocational or technical programs. Many vocational schools offer programs in new career pathways, such as industrial automation technology, alongside programs in traditional skilled trades, such as welding and collision repair.

Use this guide to learn more about trade school programs, specifically about vocational schools in Missouri. It contains important information regarding accreditation, financial aid, and careers and salaries for trade school graduates.

Missouri offers career and technical programs in several growth-oriented fields such as agriculture, health sciences, business, and technology and engineering. The list below ranks some of the best vocational schools in Missouri according to several key aspects including accreditation, financial assistance options, and program variety.

A voluntary process, accreditation attests to the quality and rigor of a school’s academic programs. Accreditors review factors including an institution’s finances, governance and administration, and operational sustainability.

Degree-granting nonprofit public and private institutions apply for regional accreditation. Vocational and trade schools as well as sectarian and for-profit schools apply for national accreditation. A third type, programmatic or specialized accreditation, reviews specific programs instead of entire schools. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the accreditation process in the United States.

The Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation to schools in Missouri and in 18 other states. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges grants national accreditation to trade and vocational schools across the U.S. ED and CHEA recognize the Distance Education Accrediting Commission as the main accreditor for online schools.

Accreditation matters for two main reasons: First, only students enrolled in accredited schools qualify for federal financial assistance. Second, most schools accept transfer credits only from accredited institutions. Moreover, professional arenas that require licensure or certification prior to practice often also require the completion of a program from an accredited school.

Keep in mind that a school’s license to operate does not mean it holds accreditation. A license indicates that a school meets the state’s minimum requirements to operate as a learning institution and offer academic programs. Accreditation reviews and attests to the quality of those programs.

Since trade schools prepare students for work in diverse professional arenas, trade school graduates earn a range of salaries. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows an average annual salary of approximately $55,510 for vocational school careers.

Some workers with a trade school education earn more than professionals who complete two-year associate degrees. For instance, electrical and electronics repairers earned a median annual salary of $78,410 in 2019, while nuclear medical technologists earned $75,660.

The BLS also projects robust growth rates between 2023-2033 for several jobs in the trade sector, including plumbers and pipefitters (6%), HVAC technicians and installers (9%), and electricians (11%). The projected growth rates for these jobs exceeds the 5% projected growth rate for all other occupations.

Job location also influences career options and salary levels. The five states hiring the highest number of trade school workers include Indiana (196,740), Tennessee (190,390), Alabama (130,840), Louisiana (129,370), and Iowa (108,690). Students with a vocational school certificate stand a better chance of being hired in these and other states that have plenty of jobs in the skilled trade sector.

Responding to current market demands, technological advances, and various socioeconomic factors, trade schools have begun offering programs in a variety of emerging professional arenas as well as in traditional skilled trades. See below for some programs available in many trade schools in Missouri and in other states.

Completing a trade school program costs less than pursuing a four-year degree. Not only are the programs shorter, but vocational schools often do not have large overhead expenses to maintain. However, for trade school students who still need financial assistance, the first step usually involves completing the FAFSA.

Schools and organizations that administer grants and scholarships rely on an applicant’s FAFSA information to determine their eligibility for financial assistance. Scholarship programs typically award applicants who meet measurable criteria such as high academic performance, artistic talent, or athletic abilities. Grant programs, often channeled through schools and organizations, focus on other factors such as a student’s social, economic, and ethnic qualifications.

Trade school students can also apply to federal student loan programs, which offer lower interest rates and payment deferment options. Some loan programs do not require student borrowers to start paying back while they are still in school.

Missouri supports the education and career objectives of its trade school students, as evidenced by the scholarship and grant opportunities outlined below. Many trade schools in Missouri provide students with an excellent starting point in their search for financial assistance.

Yes, trade school students can explore financial aid packages from the U.S. Department of Education just like students in four-year programs.

Many states maintain scholarship and grant programs specifically for trade school enrollees who reside in the state.

Most trade schools require applicants to be at least 16 years old. However, this varies by state and field of study.

Most trade school programs take fewer than two years to complete.