Scholarships are free money for trade school that you don’t pay back. Many are made just for students in welding, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, construction, manufacturing and automotive programs.
This directory lists well-known national scholarships that trade school students can apply for, plus state options in Washington and California. We checked each one with the sponsor in October 2026. Amounts and deadlines change every year, so always confirm on the official site before you apply.
New to scholarships? Start with our Scholarships for Trade School guide. Then file the FAFSA, because many scholarships and all federal and state grants use it.
Recent changes (as of October 2026)
- Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs is now SparkForce. The FMA foundation’s manufacturing scholarship has a new name and pays up to $2,000 per semester.
- DEWALT and Home Depot Path to Pro are now both applied for through the SkillPointe Foundation.
- Porch’s trade scholarship hasn’t run a new round since 2023, so we removed it.
- Sallie Mae’s Unmet Need Scholarship has ended. The Sallie Mae Fund’s Completing the Dream scholarship is open to vocational certificate students instead.
- Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation says it aims to award up to $10 million this year through its Work Ethic Scholarship.
What’s coming next
- October 31, 2026: Last Work Ethic Scholarship round of the year closes.
- November 1, 2026: FFA and SME Education Foundation applications usually open.
- Winter 2026-27: DEWALT, AWS, NAWIC and SkillsUSA’s Red Wing scholarship close between December and March.
- Spring 2027: Automotive (UAF and SEMA), PHCC and Washington’s Career and Technical Scholarship usually close between March and May.
Trade school scholarships at a glance
| Scholarship | Who it’s for | Amount | Usual deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Rowe WORKS Work Ethic Scholarship | Students entering an approved skilled trade program of two years or less | Varies, set for each student | Four rounds; last one closes October 31 |
| SkillPointe Foundation Scholarship | Students in short, non-degree training for construction, health care, energy, manufacturing or transportation | $1,000 | Awarded every quarter |
| Home Depot Path to Pro Scholarship | Students in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing or construction management at a two-year school | $2,000 | Several rounds a year; check the site |
| DEWALT Trades Scholarship | Students in skilled trades programs in the U.S. and Canada | $5,000 | Opens in November, closes late February |
| NAWIC Founders’ Scholarship | Students and apprentices in construction programs | From $2,000 | Opens in September, closes early March |
| AGC Workforce Development Scholarship | Students in craft and technical construction programs | $1,000 a year, renewable for two years | Opens March 1 |
| PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarship | Plumbing and HVAC students and apprentices | $1,500 to $10,000 | May 1 |
| AWS Foundation Scholarships | Welding students at any level | About $1,000 to $8,000+ | March 1 |
| SparkForce (FMA Foundation) Scholarship | Students in manufacturing-related certificate or degree programs | Up to $2,000 per semester | March 31 (fall) and September 30 (spring) |
| SME Education Foundation Scholarships | Students in associate or bachelor’s programs in manufacturing technical fields | $2,500 to $20,000 | November 1 to February 1 |
| University of the Aftermarket Foundation | Automotive, collision and diesel students | Varies | March 31 |
| SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund | Students heading for an automotive career | Up to $5,000 | Early April |
| SkillsUSA Red Wing Build the Future Scholarship | SkillsUSA members going into construction, manufacturing or transportation trades | $2,500 | Mid-December |
| National FFA Scholarships | FFA members, including those going to trade school | Varies | November 1 to January 15 |
| Sallie Mae Fund Completing the Dream | Enrolled students, including vocational certificate students, with an unpaid school balance | Up to $2,500 | June to mid-July |
| Coca-Cola Scholars Program | High school seniors planning a degree | $20,000 | August to September 30 |
Scholarships open to many trades
Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship
For U.S. citizens who are high school seniors or graduates entering an approved trade program of two years or less at an accredited school. You must sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge and send a tuition bill. Amounts vary by student. Four-year degree programs don’t qualify.
SkillPointe Foundation Scholarship
$1,000 awards for students 16 or older taking non-degree training in construction, health care, energy, manufacturing, transportation and related fields. Winners are picked each quarter.
Sallie Mae Fund Completing the Dream Scholarship
Up to $2,500 for students who owe up to $2,500 on their school bill, including students in vocational and technical certificate programs. It requires a 2.75 GPA. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund runs it, and it closes once funds run out.
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000 for high school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA who plan to pursue a degree at an accredited school. It fits trade students heading to an associate degree. Non-degree certificate programs likely don’t qualify.
Construction, carpentry, electrical and plumbing
Home Depot Foundation Path to Pro Scholarship
$2,000 for high school seniors and graduates studying carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing or construction management at an accredited two-year technical school or college. It’s run by the SkillPointe Foundation.
DEWALT Trades Scholarship
$5,000 for students training in high-demand skilled trades in the U.S. and Canada, with 40 awards each year. It’s run with the SkillPointe Foundation.
NAWIC Founders’ Scholarship Foundation
The National Association of Women in Construction gives awards starting at $2,000 to students and apprentices in construction programs. Many local NAWIC chapters offer their own scholarships too.
AGC Education and Research Foundation Workforce Development Scholarship
$1,000 a year, renewable for up to two years, for students in craft and technical construction programs. Many AGC chapters also give local scholarships.
PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarships
For plumbing and HVAC students at trade schools and community colleges, and for apprentices working for PHCC member contractors. Awards run from $1,500 to $10,000, and most are $3,000.
Electrician students: Local chapters of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and IBEW union locals often give scholarships to apprentices and students. Ask your program or local chapter. The Home Depot, DEWALT and Mike Rowe scholarships above also cover electrical training.
Welding and manufacturing
American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation Scholarships
One application covers national, district and local section scholarships for welding students, from short technical programs to bachelor’s degrees. Recent awards ranged from about $1,000 to more than $8,000.
SparkForce, the FMA Foundation
Formerly Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs. Up to $2,000 per semester for students in manufacturing-related programs at trade schools, community colleges and universities. Trade and technical students need a 2.5 GPA.
SME Education Foundation Scholarships
One application covers more than 60 scholarships of $2,500 to $20,000 for students in associate or bachelor’s programs that support manufacturing. Certificate programs may not qualify.
Automotive, collision and diesel
University of the Aftermarket Foundation Scholarships
One application covers hundreds of scholarships for students in ASE-accredited automotive, collision and heavy-duty diesel programs, as well as two- and four-year colleges.
SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund
Up to $5,000 for students at colleges or career and technology schools who plan an automotive career. Applicants must be high school seniors or at least 18, and U.S. or Canadian citizens.
Students in career and technical student groups
SkillsUSA Red Wing Build the Future Scholarship
$2,500 for SkillsUSA members going on to training in construction, manufacturing, transportation, distribution or logistics.
National FFA Scholarships
One application covers many scholarships for FFA members. FFA says they can be used for trade school, vocational certificates and two- or four-year degrees.
Scholarships and state aid in Washington
- Washington College Grant: state grant for low- and middle-income residents at eligible colleges and apprenticeship programs. It replaced the State Need Grant in 2019. Apply with the FAFSA or WASFA.
- WSOS Career and Technical Scholarship: up to $1,500 a quarter for Washington residents in trade, STEM or health care certificate, apprenticeship or associate programs at the state’s community and technical colleges. Income limits apply. Applications usually open in March and close in April.
- Governors’ Scholarship for Foster Youth: run by the College Success Foundation for students who were in foster care. It pays $2,000 a year at a two-year community or technical college. Applications usually run from December to late January.
- College and community scholarships: Most Washington community and technical colleges have a foundation that gives scholarships to students in their trade programs.
See trade schools in Washington.
Scholarships and state aid in California
- Cal Grant C: for low- and middle-income students in career and technical programs. For 2026-27 it pays up to $2,462 for tuition at private schools, plus an access award for books, tools and supplies. File the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by the state deadline.
- Chafee Grant: for current and former foster youth, usable at eligible career and technical schools.
- College scholarships: California community colleges and their foundations give scholarships to students in trade programs. Ask your college’s financial aid or foundation office.
See trade schools in California.
Scholarships in other states
Every state has scholarships for local students. Good places to look:
- Your state’s aid agency. Our Financial Aid for Trade School page lists every state’s agency.
- Your school’s financial aid office and its foundation.
- Community foundations for your city or county.
- Union locals, trade association chapters and local employers in the trade you’re studying.
- Your local American Job Center, which may pay for training through WIOA. See Grants for Trade School.
Watch out for scholarship scams
Real scholarships never charge you to apply or to “guarantee” an award. Be careful with:
- Fees to apply, to “hold” an award or to get a list of scholarships
- Promises that you’ll win, or that you’ve won one you never applied for
- Requests for your bank account, credit card or FSA ID
- Pressure to act right away
Free search tools like Appily (formerly Cappex) and your school’s aid office are safer places to look. If something feels off, check with the sponsor directly or report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Are there scholarships just for trade school students?
Yes. Many sponsors, such as the Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation, AWS, PHCC, NAWIC and the SkillPointe Foundation, give scholarships only to students in skilled trade programs.
Can I get a scholarship for a short certificate program?
Often, yes. The Work Ethic, SkillPointe, DEWALT, AWS and SparkForce scholarships all accept certificate or short training programs. Some others, like SME and Coca-Cola, require a degree program.
Do I need to file the FAFSA to get a scholarship?
Not always, but some scholarships ask for it, and it’s required for federal and state grants. File it early. See our FAFSA guide.
Can I use more than one scholarship?
Yes. You can usually combine scholarships with grants, up to your school’s cost of attendance.
When should I apply?
Many trade scholarships close between December and May for the next school year. Some, like SkillPointe and the Work Ethic Scholarship, take applications in rounds through the year.
Do I have to pay a scholarship back?
No. Scholarships are free money. Some have rules, such as staying enrolled or keeping a minimum GPA.
Last reviewed: October 2026