Best Trade Schools in Wisconsin (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin’s trade schools offer fast, practical training for high-demand careers. Programs focus on hands-on skills in welding, HVAC, electrical work, healthcare, CDL driving, and manufacturing. many taking under two years to complete.

With affordable tuition and strong ties to local industries, graduates often step directly into stable, good-paying jobs.

Best Trade Schools in Wisconsin

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 4 schools, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 4 of them carry a score.

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.

#1

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, WI In-state option BOC Score 67.6
Tuition $5,040 - $16,862
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 63.1%
  • Programs offered: 96
  • Annual completions: 4301
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,857 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, WI In-state option BOC Score 61.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 93
  • Annual completions: 3593
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,493 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, WI In-state option BOC Score 56.0
Tuition $4,956 - $16,242
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 49.0%
  • Programs offered: 101
  • Annual completions: 4053
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,142 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, WI In-state option BOC Score 52.5
Tuition $5,184 - $17,359
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 24.6%
  • Programs offered: 128
  • Annual completions: 3894
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,346 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best trade schools in Wisconsin?

Top choices include Milwaukee Area Technical College, Fox Valley Technical College, and Madison College.

Can I go to trade school for free in Wisconsin?

What trades are most in demand in Wisconsin?

Welding, HVAC, CDL driving, healthcare, and electrical work are among the top fields.

Do Wisconsin trade schools accept financial aid?

If you want a fast, affordable way to start a skilled career in Wisconsin, these schools provide the hands-on training you need.

Trade Schools by City in Wisconsin

Compare accredited trade schools in 91 Wisconsin cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.

Outcome figures such as graduation, completion, and job placement rates are reported by schools and by federal data sources, reflect prior student cohorts, and are not a prediction or promise of future results. Individual outcomes may vary.

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)