Trade Schools in Arizona

Become Team
Become Team
Published November 4, 2021

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There are many reasons to choose a trade school in Arizona over a four-year college. Trade schools are often far less expensive and less likely to leave you in steep debt afterward. And it's not uncommon for vocational schools to lead to high-paying jobs sooner than many undergraduate degrees.

Another incentive is the nature of the work that tends to follow after a trade school. These careers often involve highly skilled work and can include ongoing training, leading to greater job security and advancement.

Facts About Trade School and Trade Jobs in Arizona

One of the professions in hot demand from trade schools in Arizona is welders. Pay for welders in nonmetropolitan Arizona locales is among the highest in the country. There are vocational schools in Arizona for everything from plumbing to electrician certificates to cybersecurity and more.

Trade Job Outlook in Arizona

When looking at the benefits of a trade school career, look at the high salaries and projected employment. The trades are in an employment shortage right now, meaning getting hired is all but guaranteed.

Also, you'll spend four times more on a bachelor's degree — but only earn about a quarter more annually. Here's a comparison between trade school and bachelor's degree salaries:

Trade School Average Salary
$48,860
Bachelor's Degree Average Salary
$75,883

Average Cost of Trade School in Arizona

Vocational schools in Arizona can cost from $5,000 to around $40,000, with many programs being on the lower end of that cost scale. Each program on our list below is under $35,000, so you can rest assured you're attending an affordable school.

By comparison, four-year colleges cost up to $150,000 on average (that's if you attend private school). You could pay less if you were to attend a public school in-state, but it will still be much more expensive than a trade school education.

Accreditations in Arizona

Before selecting a trade school in Arizona, it's vital to learn whether it is accredited. You might not be able to obtain a job license unless you attended an accredited program within a vocational school. Accreditation requirements are in place to ensure a high standard of training, education, and skill before professional engagement. These standards help protect consumers and public health while also helping ensure students are prepared for their chosen profession.

Before committing to a trade school program, it's helpful to research which licenses and exams you will have to take afterward, if any, to begin officially working in that profession. Then, you can find out if those particular exams require your program to be accredited. Counselors for the individual schools have this information and can provide it upon request. In general, most trade schools in Arizona need to be accredited, and many of the licenses and exams for vocational careers require that you attend an accredited program.

Financial Aid for Trade School in Arizona

Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP)

For more information on paying for trade school through scholarships and grants, consider our Vocational Education Financial Aid portal.

FAQs About Continuing Education in Arizona

When deciding between trade school and college, consider that you can obtain a high salary in a shorter amount of time and with less debt. Of course, there are no guarantees. Some non-degree jobs are high-paying, even when compared to careers that require a bachelor's or higher.

Also, there's a skills gap in the country, leaving many skilled trade jobs unfilled, which provides an opportunity for future workers like you.

While continuing education isn't always necessary to find employment, it can provide a significant advantage. In general, attending a trade school, community college, or university in Arizona will help you find a better-paying job. Before making this decision, though, it's helpful to consider the financial cost of school and consider applying for scholarships and grants.

Many people take time off between high school and higher education to get some real-world experience before returning to school. However, the longer you take before attending, the longer it will be before you can benefit from your degree or certification, and some people find returning to school harder the longer they've been away.

20 Arizona Trade Schools and Colleges

The following trade schools in Arizona are all under $35,000 in net price, have over 50% graduation rates, and are all institutionally accredited. Institutional accreditation means you can be secure, knowing your trade school education is legitimate.

Net price: $16,396
School type: Private for-profit
Graduation rate: 68%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Avalon School of Cosmetology-Mesa offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Esthetics
  • Beauty School Instructor
  • Massage Therapy
  • Advanced Beauty Classes
  • Prosper U
Location: Mesa

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $17,337
Graduation rate: 69%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Program offerings:

  • Cosmetology
  • Esthetics
  • Beauty School Instructor
  • Massage Therapy
  • Advanced Beauty Classes
  • Prosper U
Location: Phoenix

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $22,579
Graduation rate: 63%
Largest program: Medical/Clinical Assistant

Carrington College-Phoenix North offers the following programs:

Location: Phoenix

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $9,514
Graduation rate: 64%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Charles of Italy Beauty College offers the following programs:

Location: Lake Havasu City

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $14,254
Graduation rate: 59%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Empire Beauty School's Avondale campus offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Educator training
Location: Avondale

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $15,463
Graduation rate: 58%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Empire Beauty School-Chandler offers these programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Educator training
Location: Chandler

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $15,636
Graduation rate: 58%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Empire Beauty School's Tucson campus offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Esthetics/aestheticsEducator training
Location: Tucson

School type: Public
Net price: $2,109
Graduation rate: 85%
Largest program: EMT Paramedic

GateWay Community College's Central City campus offers the following programs:

Location: Phoenix

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $16,558
Graduation rate: 74%
Largest program: Cosmetology

International School of Cosmetology's Scottsdale campus offers a cosmetology program.

Location: Scottsdale

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $10,891
Graduation rate: 74%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Paul Mitchell the School-Phoenix offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Instructor education
Location: Phoenix

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $14,662
Graduation rate: 96%
Largest program: Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist

Penrose Academy offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Hair
  • Esthetics
  • Laser
  • Faculty education
Location: Scottsdale

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $18,455
Graduation rate: 75%
Largest program: Veterinary/Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Assistant

Pima Medical Institute's East Valley campus offers the following programs:

Location: Mesa

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $21,007
Graduation rate: 71%
Largest program: Medical/Clinical Assistant

Pima Medical Insitute's Mesa campus offers these programs:

Location: Mesa

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $17,525
Graduation rate: 66%
Largest program: Veterinary/Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Assistant

Pima Medical Institute's Phoenix campus offers the following programs:

Location: Phoenix

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $20,784
Graduation rate: 71%
Largest program: Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician

Refrigeration Schools Inc offers the following programs:

Location: Phoenix

School type: Private not-for-profit
Net price: $6,088
Graduation rate: 95%
Largest program: Medical Office Assistant/Specialist

Regional Center for Border Health offers the following programs:

Location: Somerton

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $15,861
Graduation rate: 76%
Largest program: Cosmetology

The Studio Academy of Beauty offers these programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Esthetics
  • Hairstylist
  • Educator
Location: Chandler

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $13,860
Graduation rate: 83%
Largest program: Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist

Tucson College of Beauty offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetologist
  • Hairstyling
  • Nail Tech
  • Esthetics
  • Student Instructor
Location: Tucson

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $13,283
Graduation rate: 64%
Largest program: Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist

Turning Point Beauty College offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Nail Technology
  • Cosmetology Instructor
  • Hairstyling
  • Aesthetics
Location: Casa Grande

School type: Private for-profit
Net price: $15,298
Graduation rate: 83%
Largest program: Cosmetology

Xtylo Beauty College offers the following programs:

  • Cosmetology
  • Nail Technician
  • Instructor Training
Location: Phoenix
Become Team
Become Team
Contributing Writer

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