Vocational Trade Schools in Nebraska

Trade schools in Nebraska provide career-focused training in high-demand industries like healthcare, skilled trades, and technology. With a vocational certificate or degree, graduates can find work as medical assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and dental hygienists. They can also pursue careers as electricians, paralegals, paramedics, and HVAC technicians.

During a vocational program, students complete fieldwork in addition to their coursework. For example, paramedic studies learners train in ambulances and hospitals, while electricians build career-ready skills through a practicum.

Vocational programs offer several benefits over four-year academic degrees. A vocational certificate or degree generally takes 1-2 years, meaning students complete their program and enter the workforce in less time. As a result, vocational training generally costs less than a bachelor’s degree.

Professionals with an occupational credential also benefit from a higher employment rate than those with an academic credential, according to 2009 data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Many vocational programs offer self-paced or accelerated options to fit the schedule of busy students. Learners can also choose an online vocational program for the most flexible schedule.

Our list ranks the best vocational schools in Nebraska to help prospective students find the right fit to reach their career goals. This page also provides career and salary data for vocational occupations, introduces popular vocational programs, and lists scholarship opportunities for trade school students in Nebraska.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Trade schools in Nebraska provide career-oriented training for industries like healthcare, the skilled trades, and personal services. By choosing a top-ranked vocational program, professionals can advance their education and increase their earning potential in 1-2 years.

The following list ranks the best vocational schools in Nebraska.

Prospective trade school students should always check a school’s accreditation and licensure status before submitting an application. An unaccredited degree does not meet the requirements for many professional licenses.

Accredited schools meet high standards for educating students. Colleges and universities earn accreditation by undergoing an extensive review by an independent accrediting agency. During the review, the accrediting agency evaluates the institution’s student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, and academic mission.

Students benefit from accreditation in several important ways. First, credits earned at an accredited school are more likely to transfer to other institutions. Second, accredited degrees meet the requirements for more professional licensure and certification requirements. Finally, only students attending accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid programs.

Many schools offer vocational programs, including trade schools, technical colleges, community colleges, and four-year universities. These schools may hold regional or national accreditation. Most community colleges and four-year universities hold regional accreditation. In Wisconsin, the Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation to schools.

Vocational and trade schools often hold national accreditation from a specialized agency such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, which accredits more than 650 trade and technical schools. Other specialized accrediting agencies include the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which accredits online schools.

Postsecondary schools also need a license to operate. In Nebraska, the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education provides a directory of approved schools.

Learn more about the accreditation process.

Community colleges, career training centers, and trade schools throughout Nebraska all offer vocational and trade education. Many programs include internship and apprenticeship opportunities so that students can get the practical training they need to take on specialized jobs.

The state is committed to educating its workforce, and provides career and technical education (CTE) as early as high school. Several high schools in Nebraska offer vocational programs in which students concentrate on CTE classes. Data shows that students who participate in CTE courses are 7.5 times more likely to stay in school.

Use the search tool below to find accredited trade schools in Nebraska that meet your needs.

The career and salary outlook for trade school graduates remains strong. In many fields, trade school occupations pay high salaries and offer strong growth potential. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects much faster-than-average job growth for HVAC technicians, dental hygienists, and paralegals between 2018 and 2028.

The earning potential for trade school graduates varies depending on the industry and location. Overall, trade school occupations pay an average salary of around $55,000 per year.

On the high end, management occupations earn over $96,000 per year. In the healthcare field, practitioners and technicians with vocational training make around $55,000 per year, while healthcare support occupations earn $45,000 per year. With experience, many trade school professionals see their income increase.

In Nebraska, multiple trade school careers pay above the state’s mean annual wage of $48,000. Occupational therapy assistants and paralegals both earn around $53,000 per year. Dental hygienists in Nebraska make over $66,000 annually on average, while electricians earn nearly $53,000 per year.

Trade school programs train students for careers as dental hygienists, mechanics, paralegals, and radiology technicians. Through classroom and fieldwork requirements, students gain the skills needed for the workforce. Vocational training prepares graduates for high-demand industries like healthcare, technology, and skilled trades.

This section introduces popular trade school programs, including their earning potential and licensing requirements.

Trade school students can pay for their certificate or degree using loans, scholarships, or grants. Students attending accredited schools can receive federal financial aid, which includes grants, loans, and work-study programs, by completing the FAFSA. Prospective students can check with specific schools to learn whether they meet the eligibility requirements for federal financial aid.

Unlike loans, which recipients must pay back, scholarships and grants decrease the cost of a vocational program with no repayment obligation. As a result, they are the best form of financial aid. Many Nebraska organizations offer scholarships for trade school students.

The following section introduces scholarship opportunities for students at vocational schools in Nebraska.

Students attending vocational schools in Nebraska qualify for multiple scholarship opportunities. Private foundations, community organizations, and professional associations all support trade school students through scholarships. In addition to the following opportunities, students can research scholarships based on their school or field of study.

Trade and Vocational Schools