North Dakota’s economy relies heavily on energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. all industries that need skilled workers. Trade schools in the state offer short, career-focused programs that prepare students for these roles in less than two years. Whether you’re in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, or rural areas, there are accredited options available statewide.
Many North Dakota trade schools maintain strong partnerships with local employers, apprenticeships, and workforce agencies to connect graduates with opportunities; timelines and outcomes vary by location and job market.
Best Trade Schools in North Dakota
We could not confirm enough colleges teaching this subject within range of this
location, so the list below shows nearby institutions instead. Confirm with each
school that it offers the program before you apply.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 7 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
7 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Compare accredited trade schools in 10 North Dakota cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.
North Dakota State College of Science is highly regarded for welding, HVAC, diesel, and healthcare programs. Bismarck State College is also well-known for energy and electrical trades.
Are North Dakota community colleges considered trade schools?
Yes. Schools like NDSCS, BSC, and LRSC offer accredited, hands-on career training similar to traditional trade schools.
What trades are in demand in North Dakota in 2025?
Welders, HVAC techs, diesel mechanics, electricians, nurses, and petroleum production technicians are in steady demand.
North Dakota’s trade schools offer industry-driven training, strong employer connections, and financial aid options to help students launch stable, high-paying careers quickly.
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.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
