If you’re considering going to school, whether that’s a trade school, community college, or university, one of the most important questions is how you’re planning to pay for it. Many students take out loans, or work jobs while going to school part-time. It might be stressful and time-consuming in the moment, but could drastically improve your job possibilities for the future.

However, another great way to pay your way through school is by applying for scholarships. And thanks to all the attention to the skills gap these days, there are more opportunities than ever before to help get your education funded. There are many different types of scholarships, whether they are merit-based or need-based, or simply pots of money that the institution uses to attract potential students.

Here are a few places to begin looking for funding for your trade school experience. There’s a wide, wide, world of funding out there, and sometimes it can just take a few hours of internet digging to find an organization that’s interested in helping you pay your way.

1. The MikeRoweWorks Foundation has a few different opportunities to provide scholarships for those interested in a trade school education. Unfortunately, the program for the 2014 MikeRoweWorks Work Ethic Scholarship is currently closed, but the good news? Every eligible finalist from the last application round received an award and check from Scholarship America. They are currently accepting applications for the mrWF/MTI Scholarship, though, and this scholarship awards graduating high school seniors with a 100% tuition-free scholarship for one of MTI’s workforce training programs in mechanical trade and allied health fields. To find out more about the application process, check .
2. : Interested in a program focused on welding, pipefitting, electro-mechanical technology, or shipfitting? Check out these scholarships from the Tulsa Welding School; there are some available for everyone from military members to students beginning in December to those who need to relocate. Even if it’s not a full tuition grant, every little bit helps!
3. : This school is a great start for anyone looking to become a professional entry-level heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning technician, although new programs also provide students with the opportunity to learn about residential and commercial electrical wiring (as a maintenance electrician) and solar installation. The campus is accessible from the Phoenix Metropolitan area, and is one of the best places to get an education in this type of skilled training. They also have plenty of scholarships in a wide variety of areas: military scholarships, tribal scholarships, scholarships for Native Americans, and even ones for students they deem most deserving of an opportunity. Learn more .

This is just the tip of the iceberg- there are many more opportunities out there for anyone looking for a scholarship! If you’re aware of any notable ones we missed, please let us know or leave a comment in the section below!

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