Trade School Scholarships You Can Apply For in 2026

Trade school is already far cheaper than a four-year degree. But "cheaper" doesn't mean free, and even $5,000-$20,000 in tuition can be a barrier when you're trying to change careers or get started after high school.

The good news: there are dozens of scholarships specifically for trade and vocational students that most people never apply for. Many of these have far fewer applicants than college scholarships, which means your odds of winning are significantly better.

We compiled every legitimate trade school scholarship we could find for 2026—real programs with real money, not marketing gimmicks. Here's the list.

Welding Scholarships

1. AWS Foundation Scholarships (American Welding Society)

Amount: $500-$25,000 per scholarship (30+ individual scholarships available) Eligibility: Students enrolled in or accepted to AWS-approved welding programs Deadline: March 1 annually (for following academic year) How to apply: Through the AWS Foundation scholarship portal

The AWS Foundation is the single largest source of welding-specific scholarship funding in America. They administer over 30 named scholarships, many funded by welding equipment manufacturers and industry leaders. Some are national, others are state-specific or restricted to specific demographics (women, minorities, veterans).

Key AWS scholarships:

• Donald F. Hastings Scholarship — $2,500 (priority to students in Ohio, Pennsylvania)
• Howard E. and Wilma J. Adkins Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 (welding engineering/technology)
• Jack R. Barckhoff Welding Management Scholarship — $2,500
• William A. Rice Family Scholarship — $2,500-$5,000

If you're pursuing welding certification, the AWS Foundation should be your first stop for scholarship funding. See our guide to the best welding schools in America for programs that are AWS-approved.

2. James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation Awards

Amount: $50-$25,000 (award program, not traditional scholarship) Eligibility: Students, educators, and professionals who submit welding projects Deadline: June 30 annually How to apply: Submit a welding project through the Lincoln Foundation website

This is unique—it's a design competition rather than a traditional scholarship. You submit a welding project (with documentation of design, fabrication, and cost analysis) and compete for cash awards. Students at all levels are eligible, and the top prizes are substantial.

Manufacturing & Machining Scholarships

3. SME Education Foundation Scholarships

Amount: $1,000-$80,000 (multiple scholarship programs) Eligibility: Students pursuing manufacturing engineering or manufacturing technology degrees/certificates Deadline: February 1 annually How to apply: Through the SME Education Foundation online application

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) administers one of the most generous scholarship portfolios for manufacturing students. Their programs range from small annual awards to multi-year scholarships worth up to $80,000 total.

Key SME scholarships:

• Caterpillar Scholars Award — $5,000
• Myrtle and Earl Walker Scholarship — $2,500
• William E. Weisel Scholarship — $1,000-$5,000
• Lucile B. Kaufman Women's Scholarship — $5,000 (women in manufacturing)
• TLMI Scholarship — $5,000 (packaging/label manufacturing)

4. NIMS Scholarships (National Institute for Metalworking Skills)

Amount: $500-$2,000 Eligibility: Students in NIMS-accredited machining programs Deadline: Varies by program How to apply: Through NIMS-accredited training institutions

NIMS offers scholarships to students pursuing their industry-recognized credentials in CNC machining, measurement, and manufacturing technology. If you're at a NIMS-accredited school, ask your program director about available scholarship funding.

For more on CNC career paths, see our CNC programming skills guide.

General Trade & Vocational Scholarships

5. Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship

Amount: Up to $5,000 (S.W.E.A.T. Pledge scholarship) Eligibility: Students pursuing trade or vocational training who sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge (Skill & Work Ethic Aren't Taboo) Deadline: Applications typically open in January, close in March How to apply: Through mikeroweworks.org

Mike Rowe's foundation has awarded over $7 million in trade school scholarships since its founding. The scholarship requires applicants to sign and explain the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge—a 12-point commitment to work ethic. They fund a wide range of trade programs including welding, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, machining, and more.

This is one of the most well-known trade scholarships and receives thousands of applications. But the dollar amounts are meaningful and the application isn't difficult.

6. Imagine America Foundation Scholarships

Amount: $1,000 (Career Education Award) | $2,500 (Military Award) Eligibility: High school seniors or graduates enrolling in participating career colleges Deadline: December 31 annually How to apply: Through imagine-america.org or through participating schools

Imagine America partners with over 350 career and technical colleges nationwide. Their Career Education Award provides $1,000 to high school seniors, and their Military Award provides $2,500 to veterans and active-duty service members pursuing career education.

7. Horatio Alger Career & Technical Scholarship

Amount: $2,500 Eligibility: Students under 30 enrolled in career/technical programs, with demonstrated financial need Deadline: March 15 annually How to apply: Through scholars.horatioalger.org

The Horatio Alger Association awards hundreds of these scholarships annually to career and technical education students. Financial need is a primary criterion—they prioritize applicants who have overcome significant adversity.

Union & Trade Association Scholarships

8. IBEW/NECA Scholarships

Amount: Varies by local union ($500-$5,000) Eligibility: Children or dependents of IBEW members; sometimes open to electrical apprentices Deadline: Varies by local How to apply: Contact your IBEW local union

Many IBEW local unions offer scholarships for members' dependents or for apprentices in their training programs. These are highly local—check with your nearest IBEW local for what's available.

9. UA (United Association) Scholarships

Amount: $1,000-$5,000 Eligibility: Plumbing and pipefitting apprentices in UA programs Deadline: Varies by local How to apply: Through UA local union offices

The United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters offers scholarship programs through individual locals for apprentices pursuing their training. Some locals cover tool purchases, testing fees, and supplementary education costs.

10. PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarships

Amount: $1,000-$5,000 Eligibility: Students enrolled in plumbing/HVAC trade programs Deadline: May 1 annually How to apply: Through phccfoundation.org

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation funds scholarships for students pursuing careers in the plumbing, heating, and cooling trades. Multiple named scholarships are available, some with specific geographic or demographic requirements.

11. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Scholarships

Amount: $1,000-$10,000 Eligibility: Students in ABC-affiliated apprenticeship or craft training programs Deadline: Varies by chapter How to apply: Through local ABC chapters

ABC's Trimmer Education Foundation and individual chapters offer scholarships to construction trades students. If you're in an ABC apprenticeship or a craft training program connected to an ABC chapter, ask about available funding.

Industry & Corporate Scholarships

12. Snap-on Tools Scholarship (through SkillsUSA)

Amount: $1,000-$5,000 Eligibility: SkillsUSA members in automotive, machining, or industrial maintenance programs Deadline: Varies (through SkillsUSA state competitions) How to apply: Through SkillsUSA membership and competition participation

Snap-on and other tool manufacturers sponsor scholarships through SkillsUSA, the career and technical education student organization. Competing at state and national SkillsUSA competitions opens doors to multiple corporate scholarships.

13. Lincoln Electric Welding Scholarship

Amount: $1,000-$2,500 Eligibility: Welding students at accredited programs Deadline: Varies How to apply: Through participating schools and Lincoln Electric's education partners

Lincoln Electric supports welding education through direct scholarships and equipment grants to schools. Contact your welding program to see if they have access to Lincoln-sponsored funding.

14. Toyota STEM/Manufacturing Scholarships

Amount: $2,500-$5,000 Eligibility: Students pursuing manufacturing technology or industrial maintenance education near Toyota plants (Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Mississippi, West Virginia) Deadline: Varies by plant location How to apply: Through local community colleges partnered with Toyota

Toyota funds manufacturing scholarships at community colleges near their plants. If you're near a Toyota manufacturing facility, check with the local community college about Toyota-funded scholarship programs.

State-Specific Trade Scholarships & Grants

Many states offer their own funding for trade students. These aren't traditional scholarships—they're state workforce programs that cover tuition:

| State | Program | Coverage | Eligibility | |---|---|---|---| | Indiana | Workforce Ready Grant | Full tuition at Ivy Tech | Indiana residents in high-demand certificate programs | | Michigan | Reconnect | Full tuition at community colleges | Michigan residents 25+ without a degree | | Tennessee | TN Reconnect | Free community/technical college | Tennessee residents 23+ without a degree | | Kentucky | KEES + Work Ready | Up to $5,000/year | Kentucky HS graduates with qualifying GPA/ACT | | Oregon | Future Ready Oregon | Up to $4,000 | Oregon residents in eligible training programs | | Ohio | Choose Ohio First | Varies | Ohio residents in STEM/manufacturing programs |

Check your state's workforce development agency for current programs. Many of these pay full tuition for qualifying trade programs—making them more valuable than any individual scholarship.

How to Maximize Your Scholarship Chances

1. Apply to everything. Most trade school students apply to zero scholarships. The bar for competitiveness is low. Apply to every scholarship you qualify for, even if the amount seems small—$500 covers tools, and $2,500 covers a semester.

2. Start early. Major deadlines cluster between January and March. Start researching and preparing applications in November of the prior year.

3. Stack multiple awards. You can receive multiple scholarships simultaneously. An AWS welding scholarship doesn't prevent you from also receiving a Mike Rowe WORKS scholarship and a state workforce grant. Stack them.

4. Ask your school. Many trade schools have their own institutional scholarships funded by local employers or alumni. These are often the easiest to get because the applicant pool is limited to current students. Ask your financial aid office.

5. Consider employer-paid training. Beyond scholarships, many manufacturers will pay for your training directly. Some companies featured in our top 15 manufacturing companies hiring right now offer tuition reimbursement programs or fully funded apprenticeships.

For a deeper comparison of trade school costs vs. other education paths, see our analysis of trade school vs. college: 2026 cost, salary, and ROI.

Quick Reference: All Scholarships at a Glance

| Scholarship | Amount | Focus Area | Deadline | |---|---|---|---| | AWS Foundation (30+ awards) | $500-$25,000 | Welding | March 1 | | Lincoln Arc Welding Awards | $50-$25,000 | Welding projects | June 30 | | SME Education Foundation | $1,000-$80,000 | Manufacturing | February 1 | | NIMS Scholarships | $500-$2,000 | CNC/Machining | Varies | | Mike Rowe WORKS | Up to $5,000 | All trades | ~March | | Imagine America (Career) | $1,000 | All trades | December 31 | | Imagine America (Military) | $2,500 | Veterans, all trades | December 31 | | Horatio Alger CTE | $2,500 | All trades | March 15 | | PHCC Foundation | $1,000-$5,000 | Plumbing/HVAC | May 1 | | ABC/Trimmer Foundation | $1,000-$10,000 | Construction trades | Varies | | Snap-on (via SkillsUSA) | $1,000-$5,000 | Auto/machining/maintenance | Varies | | Lincoln Electric | $1,000-$2,500 | Welding | Varies | | Toyota Manufacturing | $2,500-$5,000 | Manufacturing | Varies |

Scholarship data sourced from organization websites, Foundation Center, and direct verification with program administrators. Award amounts, deadlines, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Always verify current details directly with the sponsoring organization before applying. HireBuilt is not affiliated with any scholarship programs listed.