Best Trade Schools in Massachusetts (2026)

Massachusetts continues to see strong demand for skilled trades in healthcare, biotech, clean energy, and construction. From Boston to the Berkshires, vocational and technical schools across the state offer hands-on training that prepares you for in-demand, well-paying roles; outcomes vary by location and job market.

Many programs are less than two years long and include apprenticeships or certification prep aligned with state licensure.


Best Trade Schools In Massachusetts

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Greater Lowell Technical School

Tyngsboro, MA In-state option BOC Score 61.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 84.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 67
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,121 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, MA In-state option BOC Score 58.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 16.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 44
  • Annual completions: 431
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,076 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Southeastern Technical Institute

South Easton, MA In-state option BOC Score 54.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 272
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,037 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

Boston, MA In-state option BOC Score 43.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 46.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 662
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,093 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in Massachusetts?

Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston is highly regarded for HVAC, electrical, and automotive programs. MassBay is known for its automotive and cybersecurity offerings, while Shawsheen Tech and Bristol-Plymouth provide strong building and medical trades.

Are Massachusetts technical high schools considered trade schools?

Yes. Many public technical high schools like Assabet Valley and GLTS offer adult and postgrad programs open to non-traditional students seeking skilled trade certification.

What trades are in demand in Massachusetts in 2025?

According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development:

  • HVAC Technicians
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Medical Assistants
  • Welders
  • Automotive Techs
  • Cybersecurity Specialists

Massachusetts’ trade schools offer fast, affordable paths into high-demand fields. Whether you’re installing HVAC systems, wiring buildings, or helping in a hospital, these careers start with a solid technical education.


Trade Schools by City in Massachusetts

Compare accredited trade schools in 41 Massachusetts cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)