Best Trade Schools in Nebraska (2026)

Nebraska’s economy depends on skilled workers in agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. Trade schools offer short, hands-on programs that prepare students for these careers in less than two years. Whether you’re in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, or rural areas, accredited options are available across the state.

Many Nebraska schools partner with employers and unions, helping connect students with opportunities after graduation; timelines and outcomes vary by location and job market.


Best Trade Schools in Nebraska

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

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, NE In-state option BOC Score 71.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 54
  • Annual completions: 815
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,390 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Western Nebraska Community College

Scottsbluff, NE In-state option BOC Score 59.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 36.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 236
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,624 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE In-state option BOC Score 59.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 46.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 48
  • Annual completions: 2949
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,675 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, NE In-state option BOC Score 55.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 35.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 89
  • Annual completions: 2293
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,277 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Metropolitan Community College Area

Omaha, NE In-state option BOC Score 46.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 27.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 72
  • Annual completions: 2891
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,376 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Joseph's College Cosmetology

Lincoln, NE In-state option BOC Score 45.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 74.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 116
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $26,838 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Trade Schools by City in Nebraska

Compare accredited trade schools in 16 Nebraska cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in Nebraska?

Metropolitan Community College is a top choice for HVAC, welding, electrical, and healthcare programs. Southeast Community College and Central Community College also offer excellent training in technical and health fields.

Are Nebraska community colleges considered trade schools?

Yes. Schools like MCC, SCC, and CCC provide accredited, hands-on training programs similar to traditional trade schools.

What trades are in demand in Nebraska in 2025?

Welders, HVAC technicians, electricians, nurses, diesel mechanics, and agriculture equipment technicians are in steady demand.


Nebraska’s trade schools provide career-focused education with strong industry connections, helping students start work quickly in stable, high-paying fields.



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)