Renewable energy, marine technology, advanced materials and environmental technology are all key industry sectors in Maine, according to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Training at trade schools in Maine can prepare you for entry-level jobs in these sectors and more, all for less time and money than a university degree.
Choosing the right training program for your local economy can provide an even bigger boost to your job search. Students in the Bangor area might do well to study health care or manufacturing, since those industries are well-represented among the city's top employers. Aspiring construction pros might want to consider the area around Sanford — York County is the fastest growing county in the state.
Why is Maine Good for Vocational/Technical Schools?
Attending a career technical education (CTE) program can have a few advantages over jumping straight into a university bachelor's degree program to advance your career. Cost is a big factor in most students' decisions, for one, and tuition and fees for trade school training costs about $3,200 less per year than they do at four-year universities.
It's also the case that CTE certification in Maine tends to take far less time to complete than a bachelor's degree. Associate degrees from career and technical schools in Maine typically require no more than two years of full-time study, and numerous certificate plans can be completed in a year or less with the right schedule.
We've got more detailed information about Maine trade schools to follow, as well as some handy advice on how to apply for financial aid in Maine. Check out our college rankings below and learn about how CTE certification in Maine is making a difference for both students and employers.
Highest-Paying and Fastest-Growing Careers in Maine
10 Best Trade Schools in Maine
Affordability, flexibility and graduate success on the workforce are three of the most important college characteristics, according to most students. We gathered data on those points from the U.S. Department of Education and other reliable sources and ranked the best trade and vocational schools in Maine according to their scores. Check out the list below:
Average net price is a comprehensive measure of college cost that subtracts a school's average amount of grant and scholarship aid from the total estimated cost of tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation and other necessities. Washington County Community College posted the lowest average net price in the state by a wide margin — students paid just over $3,900 for a full year of training in 2018.
What vocational programs WCCC offers: Degrees, diplomas and certificates are available in roughly 20 major areas of study at WCCC. Students hoping to become a part of the outdoor recreation industry can earn a certificate or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in adventure recreation and tourism, and a certificate in medical office technology can qualify you for various administrative jobs in health care.
Central Maine Community College was one of the top online trade schools in Maine by enrollment in 2018. The Auburn institution reported that more than 31 percent of enrolled students took at least some of their courses via distance education — a larger percentage than all but one other school in the state. Roughly 3,000 students attend courses here each semester, and the student-faculty ratio is 17:1.
What vocational programs CMCC offers: Fully online programs at CMCC include associate degree plans in business administration and management, criminal justice, accounting, human services and more. Campus-based programs include certificates in forensic investigation and police operations and A.A.S. degrees in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R), graphic communications and esports management.
A close-knit learning environment has a lot of upside, from the option to get extra help from professors during out-of-class hours to the ease of finding quiet places to study. Northern Maine Community College provides the most intimate college experience of any school that made our list, featuring a total student body of around 800 learners and a ratio of just 12 students to each faculty member.
What vocational programs NMCC offers: The A.A.S. and certificate plans in emergency medical services at NMCC can teach you the skills necessary to succeed in a high-energy health care career. Students hoping to enter the booming field of wind turbine maintenance — one of the two fastest-growing careers in the country in 2019 — can earn a certificate in wind power technology.
Kennebec Valley Community College posted the strongest enrollment numbers among all online trade schools in Maine, reporting that nearly 36 percent of students took advantage of the flexibility of the virtual classroom in 2018. It was also one of Maine's hotspots for student success, thanks to its statewide second-place numbers for first-year student retention and percentage of students successfully graduating from their training programs.
What vocational programs KVCC offers: More than a dozen degree and certificate programs at KVCC can be completed partially or entirely online. Fully online degrees include early childhood education and mental health technology. Programs in health information management, radiologic technology, medical assisting and more allow students to combine online coursework with traditional, in-person classes and lab sections.
The data show that graduates from Eastern Maine Community College have a tendency to find jobs and stay steadily employed after finishing their degree programs. Only one other trade school in the state reported a larger proportion of graduates continuously working for six years or more after finishing their programs than the 89 percent figure posted by this Bangor school.
What vocational programs EMCC offers: Several programs in the skilled trades are available here, including programs that cover the finer points of plumbing, welding, building construction and fine woodworking and cabinetmaking. There's also an A.A.S. program in trade and technical occupations that allows people who learn their trade by apprenticeship to also earn an associate degree by mixing in 36-48 credit hours of general education coursework.
Southern Maine Community College is located near the main population center in the state, so it should come as no surprise that the largest student body among all trade schools in Maine can be found here. More than 5,800 students attend classes at SMCC each term. The South Portland school also came out first in the state for the average salary enjoyed by former students with ten years of experience on the job.
What vocational programs SMCC offers: The list of health science degrees at SMCC features a few programs that are uncommon among most trade schools in Maine. Students here can study radiography, nutrition and dietetics or cardiovascular technology alongside more common subjects like nursing and medical assisting.
Originally established in 1891, Beal College is a private, for-profit school that offers a few bachelor's degrees alongside the traditional career certificates and associate plans. It had the state's highest rate of first-year students returning to begin the second year of their training programs, and the small student body of around 200 learners means you're not likely to feel too crowded. The student-faculty ratio here is 15:1.
What vocational programs Beal offers: Just over a dozen associate degree and diploma programs are available at this small Bangor school. The A.A.S. in welding technology covers numerous welding disciplines and includes an introduction to metallurgy. The diploma in addiction counseling teaches rehabilitation skills and addiction theory and aims to prepare students for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) exam.
How to Apply for Trade School Financial Aid in Maine
No matter how you look at it, college-level training doesn't exactly come cheap. Students who could use some help with their tuition bills and other expenses should take care to look into Maine scholarships and other available financial aid programs as early as possible to make sure they have the best chance of receiving a substantial award.
The most important document in the college financial aid process is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known to most students and advisors as the FAFSA. Most financial aid programs require applicants to have a completed FAFSA on file, including those funded at the state or institutional level, and filing your FAFSA is the only way to qualify for valuable federal aid programs like the Pell Grant.
If you're interested in going deeper, we put together a comprehensive guide to financial aid to help students better understand the specifics of the FAFSA and their aid options in general. For now, take a look at this quick list of Maine scholarships and grants that might come in handy on your college journey:
- Maine State Grant Program - This need-based program provides Maine students at eligible institutions with up to $1,500 per year in assistance.
- Maine State Grant Program for Adult Learners - Open only to students born before January 1, 1996, this program is designed to help working adults return to school with up to $1,500 in aid.
- Adult Learner Scholarship Fund - The Maine Community Foundation administrates this award, which provides up to $1,500 in aid for students who either are over the age of 25, have dependent children or work full time while enrolled.
Resources for Vocational Students and Vocational Job Seekers in Maine
- The seven public vocational schools in Maine combine to form the Maine Community College System, which makes information about its schools and programs available on its website.
- The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is a great resource for information about Maine scholarships, grant and loan programs and more, as well as news that affects students and businesses in the state.
- Unless you attend an accredited school, you can't be sure that your training will be up to today's standard for your profession. Public trade schools in Maine are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Private institutions earn accreditation from national bodies like the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and individual programs are accredited by industry groups like the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
You can also take a look at some hard data about CTE certification in Maine on the state's page at Advance CTE, and learn more about CTE on a national level at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Web portal.