Even though most community colleges and trade schools are much less expensive than 4-year institutions, you may still need or want financial help if you’re considering going into manufacturing.

The good news is that there are a lot of manufacturing scholarships out there for anyone who needs a little help getting through school. We’ve compiled 4 great manufacturing scholarships for you to consider applying for if you’re looking for a scholarship:

• The SME Education Foundation Scholarships. Since 1998, the  has provided over $8.1 million dollars in financial aid through its various scholarship programs. They offer many scholarships, from high school students, to college and graduate students. They’re all for students interested in manufacturing. The 2013/14 application is closed, but you can sign up for an email list to get next year’s application.
• Thomasnet North American Manufacturing Scholarship. The Thomasnet North American Manufacturing  offer up to 30 individual awards of $1,000 each for those looking to study engineering, enter a skilled trade program, or pursue a curriculum in supply chain management and/or business operations. Applications for next year’s scholarships will open up soon.
• MikeroweWORKS Foundation Scholarship. The mikeroweWORKS Foundation  is for students who are enrolled in a skilled trade program at a two-year college, vocational school or approved training institute. Students may be eligible for up to $2,500 in scholarships, and applications are currently open for next year’s scholarship.
• The Grainger Tools for Tomorrow Scholarship. The Grainger Tools for Tomorrow  awards financial assistance for tuition and books to outstanding students earning an associates degree or certificate in the fields of electrical, plumbing, welding, construction, facilities maintenance, machine technology, electronic systems, automotive repair and other industrial programs. Scholarships are for $2,000 and applications are opening later this fall.

You should also know that scholarships aren’t the only way to get help paying for a technical education. Many of Nebraska’s manufacturing employers offer help paying for school in exchange for a commitment to working after graduation.

The bottom line is this: if you want to pursue a career in manufacturing but need help paying for school, there are a number of resources out there to help you out. Manufacturers definitely want to help you find a career, and so do we!

If you need any more help with questions related to manufacturing education, please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know. We’d be more than happy to help!

—

photo credit: via