Best Trade Schools in Michigan (2026)

Michigan’s skilled trade economy is powered by its automotive, construction, and healthcare industries. From Detroit and Grand Rapids to Flint, Lansing, and rural towns, Michigan’s trade schools offer fast, affordable training that prepares you for in-demand careers; employment outcomes vary by location and job market.

Whether you’re entering the workforce or changing careers, Michigan’s vocational programs provide the tools you need to get skilled and job-ready fast; hiring outcomes vary by location and job market.


Best Trade Schools In Michigan

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

Lansing Community College

Lansing, MI In-state option BOC Score 48.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 23.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 86
  • Annual completions: 1717
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,314 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Northwestern Technological Institute

Southfield, MI In-state option BOC Score 47.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 73.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 946
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,488 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, MI In-state option BOC Score 41.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 19.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 66
  • Annual completions: 1119
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,887 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Dorsey College

Madison Heights, MI In-state option BOC Score 24.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 618
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $34,001 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in Michigan?

Dorsey College and MIAT College of Technology offer hands-on training in high-growth trades. GRCC and Lansing Community College provide affordable programs with strong job placement.

Are Michigan community colleges considered trade schools?

Yes. Michigan community colleges offer skilled trade certifications, associate degrees, and workforce training that qualify as trade education.

What trades are in demand in Michigan in 2025?

According to the Michigan Department of Labor and BLS:

  • HVAC Technicians
  • Welders
  • CDL Truck Drivers
  • Medical Assistants
  • Electricians
  • CNC Machinists
  • Automotive Technicians

If you’re ready to jumpstart a hands-on career, Michigan trade schools offer the affordable, job-ready training you need. Explore your options and apply today.


Trade Schools by City in Michigan

Compare accredited trade schools in 104 Michigan 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)