Most hands-on trade training in Mississippi happens at the state’s 15 public community colleges, which also serve as its technical and vocational colleges. Full-time tuition there runs about $1,800 to $1,900 a semester, and private career colleges, CDL schools and a few low-cost workforce programs fill in around them. This page helps you pick a trade, compare the schools we profile, and see what training costs and which license it leads to.
Mississippi at a glance
- Schools listed
- 7 open to adults, plus 1 career center for high-school students
- Where
- Gulf Coast, Jackson area, Horn Lake and Southaven (Memphis area), the Delta, and Columbus and Scooba
- Public colleges profiled
- Mississippi Gulf Coast, East Mississippi and Mississippi Delta community colleges
- Shortest course
- 16-day CDL Training Course (Delta Technical College)
- Federal aid at
- 5 of the 7 adult schools
- Statewide median pay
- Electricians $60,860; welders $51,100; LPNs $50,220; HVAC mechanics $48,680 (BLS 2025)
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Trade Schools and Technical Colleges in Mississippi
Listed alphabetically, not ranked. Each card links to a full profile with programs, outcomes and sources. Pick a trade to filter the list; each trade’s pay, length and license are in Trades and licensing.
Open to adults (7 schools)
Concorde Career College
A branch of Concorde’s Memphis campus teaching five programs: dental assisting, medical assisting, massage therapy, phlebotomy and a coding-focused Medical Office Professional diploma. Dental and medical assisting also come as associate degrees.
- Length
- Diplomas from about 8 weeks; associate degree options
- Accredited
- Yes (COE)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: ask for the Southaven tuition sheet; Concorde publishes prices only as images
View school profile →Delta Technical College
Truck driving, HVAC/R, welding, electrician, medical and dental assisting and cosmetology, most with day and evening classes. Truck driving is its largest program, and the HVAC/R program at Horn Lake is accredited by HVAC Excellence.
- Length
- 16 days (CDL course) to about 13 months
- Accredited
- Yes (ACCSC)
- Federal aid
- Yes, except the 16-day CDL course and phlebotomy
Cost: $4,250 CDL course (October 2026); $16,195 HVAC/R diploma (2024-25, federal data)
View school profile →East Mississippi Community College
34 career and health programs, from nursing and funeral service to welding, HVAC and electrical, plus a one-semester lineworker certificate with a Class A CDL built in. Housing at the Scooba campus.
- Length
- 1 semester (lineworker) to 2-year associate degrees
- Accredited
- Yes (Commission on Colleges and Universities)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $1,900 a semester full-time; $2,845 flat rate with fees for most trades (2026-27)
View school profile →Metro Booming Training Academy
Opened in 2023 with automotive certificates, forklift training and entry-level HVAC and electrical courses. In October 2026 neither automotive certificate had a class date, so ask about the next start.
- Length
- 5 days (forklift) to 1 year (automotive)
- Accredited
- No (state-licensed only)
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $1,575 plus a $17 fee for either automotive certificate (2024 catalog)
View school profile →Mississippi Delta Community College
Nursing, dental hygiene, lab and radiologic technology, plus HVAC, electrical, welding and automotive. Its practical nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN at 90% in 2024. Housing at Moorhead.
- Length
- 1-semester certificates to 2-year associate degrees
- Accredited
- Yes (Commission on Colleges and Universities)
- Federal aid
- Pell Grants and work-study; no federal loans
Cost: $1,800 a semester full-time, plus fees (fall 2026)
View school profile →Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
The state’s largest community college teaches nursing, allied health, welding at five sites, HVAC, electrical, automotive, cosmetology and a one-semester truck driving course. Its RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 96.9% on the first try in 2024.
- Length
- 1 semester (truck driving) to 2-year associate degrees
- Accredited
- Yes (Commission on Colleges and Universities)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $1,800 a semester full-time, plus fees (May 2026 tuition page); truck driving free for eligible students
View school profile →Roadmaster Drivers School
Full-time Class A CDL training on West Highland Drive since 2021, with new classes weekly. The school is owned by trucking company Werner Enterprises.
- Length
- About 4 weeks, full time
- Accredited
- No
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $7,495 tuition in its Florida and California catalogs (2025-26); request the Mississippi price
View school profile →High school only (1 school)
College & Career Technical Institute
Students from Pascagoula High and Gautier High take 18 programs, including welding, HVAC, carpentry and diesel with NCCER exams, health sciences with CNA training, and the Ingalls Maritime Academy for seniors.
- Who
- Pascagoula-Gautier School District high-school students
- Federal aid
- Not applicable
Cost: no tuition for district students
View school profile →No schools on this page match. Try another trade or area, or see the public colleges named below.
We profile 3 of Mississippi’s 15 public community colleges so far. The others are Coahoma, Copiah-Lincoln, East Central, Hinds, Holmes, Itawamba, Jones College, Meridian, Northeast Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi, Pearl River and Southwest Mississippi. Most teach career and technical programs, so check the one nearest you.
City page: Jackson trade schools
- Check accreditation and federal aid on each card. Metro Booming and Roadmaster are not accredited and award no college credit.
- Ask for program-level results, not school-wide claims. Nursing pass rates on this page range from 78% to 100% depending on the college and year.
- Get the Mississippi price in writing. Roadmaster and Concorde publish no Mississippi tuition, and most Delta Technical College prices here are 2024-25 federal figures.
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | Why they may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost accredited credential | Gulf Coast; Mississippi Delta; East Mississippi | $1,800 to $1,900 a semester full-time in 2026-27; all three take Pell Grants |
| Fastest route to a Class A CDL | Delta Technical College; Roadmaster (Jackson); Gulf Coast | 16-day course for $4,250 at Delta Tech; about 4 weeks at Roadmaster; a one-semester course at Gulf Coast that is free for eligible students |
| Lineworker | East Mississippi | One-semester, 22-credit certificate that includes a Class A CDL and OSHA-10, at the $2,845 flat rate |
| HVAC or electrical | Gulf Coast (Gulfport, Lucedale); Mississippi Delta; East Mississippi; Delta Technical College | Community college certificates that stack into degrees; Gulf Coast added an evening electrical class in Gulfport; Delta Tech’s 35-week HVAC/R diploma runs days or evenings |
| Welding | Gulf Coast; East Mississippi; Mississippi Delta; Delta Technical College | Gulf Coast teaches welding at five sites; Delta Tech’s program takes about 7 months, days or evenings |
| Nursing (LPN or RN) | Gulf Coast; Mississippi Delta; East Mississippi | Gulf Coast RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 96.9% on the first try in 2024; Mississippi Delta PN graduates passed at 90% |
| Medical or dental assisting | Concorde (Southaven); Delta Technical College; Gulf Coast | Diplomas of about 9 months at the private colleges; Gulf Coast’s medical assisting program prepares for the CMA exam |
| Cosmetology or barbering license | East Mississippi; Gulf Coast (Lucedale, Long Beach); Delta Technical College | Mississippi requires 1,500 school hours; East Mississippi charges $2,434 a semester, against $20,660 at Delta Tech (2024-25) |
| Automotive or diesel | Gulf Coast (Gulfport); East Mississippi; Mississippi Delta; Metro Booming (Jackson) | Gulf Coast covers eight ASE areas and adds collision repair; East Mississippi adds diesel; Metro Booming is the cheapest but had no class dates in October 2026 |
| Still in high school | College & Career Technical Institute (Pascagoula); dual credit at your community college | No tuition for district students; see high school options |
These match goals to published program features. They are not rankings.
Costs and financial aid
These are the prices each school published, with the year. They exclude books, tools, and exam and license fees unless noted.
| Route | Example | Cost | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public community college | Gulf Coast; Mississippi Delta; East Mississippi | $1,800; $1,800; $1,900 a full-time semester before fees ($2,845 flat rate with fees for most East Mississippi trades) | 2026-27 |
| Grant-funded truck driving | Gulf Coast Commercial Truck Driving (one semester) | Free for eligible students through a RESTORE Act grant | October 2026 |
| Nonprofit workforce school | Metro Booming automotive certificates | $1,575 plus a $17 fee | 2024 catalog |
| Private CDL course | Delta Technical College 16-day course; Roadmaster Class A | $4,250; Mississippi price not published ($7,495 tuition in other states) | October 2026; 2025-26 |
| Private career college diploma | Delta Technical College welding; HVAC/R; medical assisting | $14,692; $16,195; $16,345 | 2024-25 (federal data) |
| Cosmetology | East Mississippi (3 semesters); Delta Technical College (about 13 months) | $2,434 a semester with fees; $20,660 | 2026-27; 2024-25 (federal data) |
A community college certificate is usually the cheapest accredited route. Out-of-state students pay more: Gulf Coast adds $500 a semester, and Mississippi Delta $1,600.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: Concorde, Delta Technical College, East Mississippi and Gulf Coast take federal aid through the FAFSA. Mississippi Delta offers Pell Grants and work-study but no federal loans. Metro Booming and Roadmaster take no federal aid.
- State grants: the need-based HELP grant pays full tuition and required fees at public colleges, community colleges included, for students who meet its income, GPA and ACT rules. MTAG adds up to $500 a year for first- and second-year students, and MESG up to $2,500 for high scorers. Deadlines fall well before the school year.
- Workforce Pell: a new federal grant for short programs. Mississippi began accepting program applications on July 1, 2026, and state officials expect the first approved programs as early as January 2027.
- Short workforce courses: the community colleges run about 250 to 300 short noncredit programs, such as EMT, plumbing, welding and HVAC, through their workforce divisions. Prices and credentials vary, so ask the college.
- WIOA: WIN Job Centers can pay for approved training for eligible adults; Gulf Coast lists the programs it offers with WIOA funding.
- Employer routes: Ingalls Shipbuilding hires apprentices on the Gulf Coast, and the Pascagoula-Gautier district’s Hired UP classes train adults for shipyard trades. Trucking companies that partner with Roadmaster reimburse tuition in monthly payments while graduates work for them.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in Mississippi, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Mississippi median annual wage for all experience levels (BLS 2025, via O*NET OnLine).
HVAC
Mississippi licenses HVAC contractors, not individual technicians. Technicians who handle refrigerant need federal EPA 608 certification, so ask whether your program includes the test.
- Length
- 35 weeks to 2 years
- Mississippi median pay
- $48,680 (HVAC mechanics)
- License
- EPA 608; a State Board of Contractors license to run an HVAC business
Schools on this page: Gulf Coast (37-credit certificate to associate degree, Gulfport), Mississippi Delta (Moorhead and Greenville, with EPA 608 preparation), East Mississippi (one-year certificate, Mayhew), Delta Technical College (35-week diploma, Horn Lake and Ridgeland) and Metro Booming (intro course, Jackson).
Gulf Coast’s and East Mississippi’s HVAC program pages do not mention EPA 608 testing, and Delta Technical College’s HVAC Excellence accreditation covers its Horn Lake program only, not Ridgeland. Details are in each school’s profile.
Electrical, plumbing and lineworker
Mississippi has no statewide journeyman license for electricians or plumbers. The State Board of Contractors licenses the businesses, and some cities add their own rules, so check where you plan to work.
- Length
- 1 semester (lineworker) to 2 years
- License
- State Board of Contractors license for residential work at any amount, or commercial jobs over $50,000
Schools on this page: East Mississippi (Electrical Technology with NCCER credentials, and a one-semester Utility Lineworker certificate with a Class A CDL), Gulf Coast (day program in Lucedale, evening program in Gulfport, apprentice lineman course in Lucedale), Mississippi Delta (Moorhead and Greenville), Delta Technical College (about 7 months, Horn Lake and Ridgeland) and Metro Booming (Work Ready Electrical, Jackson).
Plumbing: none of the schools on this page offers a credit plumbing program. Community college workforce divisions run short plumbing courses, and most plumbers learn on the job as apprentices.
Welding
Mississippi has no state welding license, so what counts is passing the welding tests employers ask for, including the Gulf Coast shipyards.
- Length
- About 7 months to 2 years
- Mississippi median pay
- $51,100
- License
- None from the state; ask which AWS, NCCER or employer tests are included
Schools on this page: Gulf Coast (30-credit certificate to associate degree at five sites), East Mississippi (NCCER-based certificate or degree, Mayhew and Scooba), Mississippi Delta (certificate, Moorhead) and Delta Technical College (about 7 months, plus a 10-month welding and pipefitting program at Horn Lake).
Delta Technical College’s welding certifications are its own, not American Welding Society certifications, and Gulf Coast’s program page does not promise AWS certification. Ask which tests you will take before you finish.
Nursing and healthcare
Nursing is taught at the public colleges; the private schools focus on assisting roles.
- Length
- About 9 months to 2 years
- License
- NCLEX for nurses, through the Mississippi Board of Nursing; national certificates for assistants
Schools on this page: Gulf Coast (RN and LPN in Biloxi, plus medical assisting, surgical technology and imaging), Mississippi Delta (RN, LPN, dental hygiene, lab and radiologic technology, Moorhead), East Mississippi (RN, LPN, surgical technology and EMT), Concorde (dental and medical assisting and phlebotomy, Southaven) and Delta Technical College (medical and dental assisting).
Results differ by college and year. Gulf Coast’s RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 96.9% (226 of 233) on the first try in 2024, and Mississippi Delta’s at 78% in 2024 after 100% in 2023. East Mississippi reports 100% for 2024-25 but counts first-time and repeat takers together. Sources are linked in each school’s profile.
Cosmetology and barbering
Mississippi requires 1,500 school hours for a cosmetology or barber license, 600 for esthetics and 350 for nail technology.
- Length
- 350 to 1,500 school hours
- Mississippi median pay
- $27,560 (cosmetologists)
- License
- Written exam from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
Schools on this page: East Mississippi (cosmetology and barbering, Mayhew), Gulf Coast (1,550-hour cosmetology diploma, Lucedale and Long Beach) and Delta Technical College (about 13 months, Horn Lake and Ridgeland).
CDL and truck driving
First-time truck drivers must finish federal entry-level driver training before the CDL skills test.
- Length
- 16 days to 1 semester
- Mississippi median pay
- $51,820 (tractor-trailer drivers)
- License
- A Mississippi CDL from the Department of Public Safety, after holding a learner’s permit for at least 14 days
Schools on this page: Delta Technical College (16-day course, or a 20-week program with three endorsements that qualifies for federal aid), Roadmaster (about 4 weeks, Jackson), Gulf Coast (one-semester course at Perkinston, Lucedale and Long Beach) and East Mississippi (Class A CDL inside the lineworker certificate).
Roadmaster is not accredited, takes no federal aid and publishes no Mississippi tuition. Delta Technical College’s 16-day course is not eligible for federal aid either, while its 20-week program is. Get the price in writing before you sign. Details are in our Roadmaster profile.
Automotive and diesel
Mississippi has no state license for auto or diesel technicians; employers look for ASE certification, which you can start while in school.
- Length
- 1 semester to 2 years
- Mississippi median pay
- $37,820 (automotive technicians)
- License
- None from the state; ASE certification after work experience
- Compare schools
- Auto mechanic schools →
Diesel mechanic schools →
Schools on this page: Gulf Coast (automotive and collision repair, Gulfport), East Mississippi (automotive and diesel, Mayhew), Mississippi Delta (automotive, Moorhead) and Metro Booming (one-year and one-semester certificates, Jackson).
Licensing at a glance
| Trade | Who licenses it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC, electrical and plumbing | Mississippi State Board of Contractors | A license for the business, held through a tested qualifying party: on residential jobs at any amount, and on commercial jobs over $50,000. We found no separate state license for individual technicians, journeymen or apprentices; check city rules. EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerant (federal). |
| Residential building | Mississippi State Board of Contractors | A license for new homes over $50,000, and for remodeling, additions or roofing over $10,000. |
| Cosmetology and barbering | Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering | School hours: cosmetology 1,500, barbering 1,500, esthetics 600, nail technology 350, instructor 600. Since February 1, 2026, only the written exam is required, with no practical exam. |
| CDL | Mississippi Department of Public Safety | Federal entry-level driver training for first-time Class A or B drivers, a learner’s permit held at least 14 days, then the skills test. You must be 21 to drive across state lines. |
| Nursing | Mississippi Board of Nursing | An approved LPN or RN program and the NCLEX exam. |
| Welding, automotive and diesel | No state license | Employer welding tests (often AWS or NCCER) and ASE certification for technicians. |
High school students: career centers and dual credit
College & Career Technical Institute in Pascagoula is the Pascagoula-Gautier School District’s career center for students from Pascagoula High and Gautier High. It charges no tuition, prepares students for NCCER, ServSafe and CNA credentials, and some second-year courses earn dual credit with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Seniors who finish two years in a program can join the Ingalls Maritime Academy, which leads toward an Ingalls Shipbuilding apprenticeship. Adults cannot enroll in the day programs and should look at Gulf Coast’s Jackson County campus in Gautier or the district’s Hired UP shipyard classes.
Elsewhere, high-school students can take college courses through dual enrollment at their local community college; ask your school counselor which career courses count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a trade school, a technical college and a vocational school in Mississippi?
Mostly the name. Mississippi has no separate system of technical colleges: its 15 public community colleges teach the career and technical programs, from one-semester certificates to two-year associate degrees, alongside transfer courses. Private career colleges such as Delta Technical College and Concorde teach shorter diplomas, and high-school career centers such as College & Career Technical Institute in Pascagoula serve local students only.
What is the cheapest trade school in Mississippi?
For adults, a public community college certificate is usually cheapest: full-time in-state tuition is $1,800 to $1,900 a semester in 2026-27 at the three colleges on this page, before fees, and Pell Grants apply. Gulf Coast’s one-semester truck driving course is free for eligible students.
Is trade school free in Mississippi?
Not generally, but there are ways to pay nothing: the HELP grant covers full tuition and required fees at public colleges for students who qualify, Pell Grants cover community college tuition for many students, WIN Job Centers can fund training through WIOA, and some courses are grant-funded. Workforce Pell for short programs is expected to start in 2027.
Do I need a license to be an electrician or HVAC technician in Mississippi?
Not as an individual. The State Board of Contractors licenses electrical, plumbing and HVAC businesses for residential work at any amount and commercial jobs over $50,000, and we found no statewide journeyman license. Some cities have their own rules. HVAC technicians who handle refrigerant need federal EPA 608 certification.
How long does trade school take in Mississippi?
From 16 days for a private CDL course to about two years for an associate degree. Lineworker and truck driving certificates at the community colleges take one semester, and cosmetology takes 1,500 hours, about three semesters at East Mississippi or 13 months at Delta Technical College.
Can adults attend College & Career Technical Institute in Pascagoula?
No. Its day programs are for Pascagoula High and Gautier High students only. Adults should look at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jackson County campus in Gautier or the district’s Hired UP shipyard trades classes.
More Mississippi guides
- Jackson, Mississippi Trade Schools
- Compare Auto Mechanic Schools
- Compare Diesel Mechanic Schools
- Compare Construction Trade Schools
- Financial Aid for Trade School
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked. Pay figures are Mississippi median annual wages from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine.