Vocational Trade Schools in Wyoming
Why Choose Trade School?
Trade schools, also referred to as vocational or tech schools, offer skills-based educational programs. In addition to classroom instruction, students complete significant training in the field to develop the skills needed for specific occupations.
Trade schools often offer programs in auto repair, cosmetology, plumbing, and HVAC. However, shifting market forces and numerous socioeconomic factors have led vocational and trade schools to diversify their offerings. Many schools now offer programs in fields like industrial automation technology, multimedia animation, and web graphics.
Vocational school programs typically take under two years to complete. Students save time and also money, since they only have to pay tuition for two years (at the most) rather than four years at a regular college or university.
Shorter programs also mean students enter the workforce sooner. They gain valuable experience and start receiving a salary two years ahead of their counterparts pursuing four-year degrees.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 74% of students with an occupational credential from a trade or vocational school end up working in the professional arena directly related to their field of study. Meanwhile, only 53% of students with academic credentials from four-year colleges and universities find work in their major after graduation.
By offering career-focused programs, trade schools play a major role in meeting students’ educational and professional needs.
Read on to learn more about vocational school programs in general and more specifically about trade schools in Wyoming.
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Vocational Trade Schools in Wyoming
The following list includes some of the top vocational schools in Wyoming. We considered accreditation, financial aid, online options, and available programs to rank these schools.
Casper College is one of the region's largest community colleges. Casper's 40 transfer and career and technical education programs give learners a pathway to a four-year degree or a career right out of college. Learners study in classrooms with a 13-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio on a 200-acre campus. Students interested in entering the workforce choose the AAS degree, which provides training in fields such as accounting and bookkeeping, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship.
Transfer programs include pre-dentistry and pre-medicine. One of the best vocational schools in Wyoming for technical training, Casper administers associate degrees in fields such as automotive, paramedic, and construction technology. Learners with limited time choose certificates in manufacturing and healthcare. Casper's unique programs include the cognitive retraining certificate, which qualifies learners to sit for the national Certified Brain Injury Specialist exam. An electrical apprenticeship rounds out the catalog, giving learners extensive classroom and paid hands-on training.
At Northwest College, residents living in three rural counties in Big Horn Basin receive access to adult education, workforce training, and degrees. Learners study on campus in Powell and at centers in Cody and Worland. Online learning supplements on-campus delivery. Degrees that lead to career-readiness include the AAS in aeronautics, AAS in drafting technology, and AAS in outdoor recreation leadership.
Residents interested in completing the first two years of a four-year degree at NWC choose from about 40 options, including an AS in allied health, AA in conservation law enforcement, and AA in political science. Five transfer degrees focus exclusively on pre-majors such as pre-optometry. NWC offers a customizable AAS in technical studies that requires students to complete an internship at Western Hands, an organization that celebrates western design and craftsmanship.
NWC apprenticeships train plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. Through peer tutoring, students can receive help in math, science, and writing to prosper at one of the best trade schools in Wyoming.
Central Wyoming College serves Fremont, Teton, and Hot Springs counties. In addition to the main campus in Riverton, CWC operates satellite campuses. CWC's catalog consists of degrees and short-term certificates in 36 areas.
Degrees flexible enough to ensure job-readiness and provide the foundation necessary to transfer to a senior college include the AS in agribusiness and the associate degree in nursing. The AAS in geospatial science teaches learners how to use high-tech mapping technologies in a variety of settings. AAS degrees in automotive technology and culinary arts also create a pipeline of job-ready workers. Certificates train certified nursing assistants, dental assistants, and other healthcare workers in an accelerated time frame.
Participants complete just 26 credits to earn the electrical apprenticeship certificate. CWC's bachelor of applied science in tribal leadership and business and entrepreneurial leadership distinguish the institution from other two-year tech schools in Wyoming.
Established in 1959, Western Wyoming Community College is one of the state's seven community colleges. WWCC, located in Rock Springs, offers a 13-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures personalized learning. The school's two-year degrees cover six disciplines, including business, social science, and technology and industry. The school designed some degrees just for transfer purposes, including four pre-med programs.
WWCC administers 26 degrees and certificates fully online, and some courses feature at-your-pace learning. One of the school's newest programs allows nontraditional learners to earn an AAS in business management online in just 16 months. Associate degrees focused exclusively on career preparation include three AAS degrees in welding technology. An electrical apprenticeship provides on-the-job training. Enrollees in need of short-term credentials complete one of 42 certificates in a semester or a year.
Students begin to develop their leadership skills through participation in one of 20 clubs on campus. WWCC's competitive tuition and scholarships cement WWCC's standing as one of the most affordable tech schools in Wyoming.
Founded in 1948, Eastern Wyoming College enrolls students primarily from Goshen County. EWC also manages outreach programs that serve students in five other counties. All students receive access to degrees, certificate, and transfer courses in fields such as animal science, precision agriculture, criminal justice, and early childhood distance learning.
The unique AAS in gunsmithing provides an option not available at other vocational schools in Wyoming. Students learn how to make, modify, and maintain firearms based on blueprints or customized specifications. Transfer options include the AA in English and customizable AA and AS in interdisciplinary studies. Pre-professional programs in allied health and five other healthcare majors provide the prerequisites to enter professional programs at major institutions.
Students with limited time and resources can develop quickly through certificates in about 20 programs. The school offers several online options to give learners more flexibility. Students interested in hands-on training choose from several apprenticeships and internships.
How We Rank Schools
Accredited Schools Online uses trusted data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate schools based on quality, affordability, and reputation. When ranking schools, we look at factors like graduation rate, admission rate, tuition and other costs, financial aid, and program offerings. All our ranked schools hold institutional accreditation.
Explore our rankings methodology to learn more about how we rank schools.
FAQ
Accreditation and Licensing for Trade Schools
A school’s accreditation attests to the quality of its academic programs. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the accreditation process in the United States.
Nonprofit degree-oriented private and public institutions seek regional accreditation from accreditors recognized by the ED and CHEA. For-profit career-focused trade and sectarian schools seek national accreditation. Programmatic accrediting agencies evaluate specific programs rather than entire institutions.
A school’s accreditation matters for two main reasons. First, only accredited schools can administer federal financial aid packages from the ED, including scholarships, grants, and work-study programs. Second, most accredited schools only accept transfer credits from other accredited institutions.
Never take a school’s accreditation for granted. Diploma mills, which are not accredited, exist among schools offering vocational programs.
The Higher Learning Commission accredits postsecondary two-year and four-year colleges and universities in Wyoming. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges accredits vocational schools in Wyoming. Accreditation of online schools and programs falls under the authority of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
States require all schools to be licensed before they can offer any type of educational programs. Licensure is not the same as accreditation. Licensure means that a school meets the minimum requirements of the state to operate as a learning institution. Accreditation evaluates the quality of the academic programs offered by the school.
Career and Salary Outlook for Trade School Graduates
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for all trade school occupations is $59,370. Many trade school graduates command higher salaries. Elevator installers and repairers ($102,420), aircraft mechanics ($75,400), and electrical line installers ($85,420) all earn strong average salaries.
Job growth and career prospects for several trade school occupations remain healthy. According to the BLS, electricians, HVAC technicians, and plumbers benefit from high projected growth rates in jobs in their sector between 2023 and 2033. However, some trade school occupations such as air traffic controllers and automotive service technicians face little to no change at all in growth rates for jobs in their sector.
Vocational school graduates have an easier time finding work in states with industries that require their skills and training. Job location significantly impacts career options. The following states hire the highest number of trade school graduates: Indiana (196,740), Tennessee (190,390), Alabama (130,840), Louisiana (129,370), and Iowa (108,690).
What Kinds of Trade School Programs Are Available?
The list below includes four of the most common trade and technical programs.
Financial Aid for Trade School Students
For most students, the search for financial aid begins by completing the FAFSA. Public and private postsecondary institutions, including vocational and tech schools, use FAFSA information to determine an applicant’s eligibility for their programs. Many private nonprofits and professional trade associations that administer scholarships and grants also rely on FAFSA information.
Federal programs such as Pell Grants and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants accept applications from trade school students based on their FAFSA information.
Vocational students who need additional aid should consider taking out a student loan from the government before private lenders. Private lenders typically charge higher interest rates and do not offer payment deferment options like federal student loans.
Scholarship for Trade School Students
Students enrolled in trade schools in Wyoming can take advantage of the following scholarship and grant opportunities.
