Wyoming is a great place for students seeking a trade or vocational school education. Industries that employ trade school graduates are among the strongest in the state — the construction industry showed one of the highest rates of statewide growth in 2018-19, with opportunities increasing nearly 7 percent, and transportation and utility workers belong to the second-largest economic sector in Wyoming.
Specific areas of the state might present even better opportunity for workers with training that matches regional needs. Western Wyoming, which includes Jackson and Rock Springs, posted some of the highest average welding wages of any non-metro area in the country, and licensed practical nurses in the Cheyenne area earned nearly $10,000 more per year than the statewide average.
Why is Wyoming Good for Vocational/Technical Schools?
Career technical education (CTE) in Wyoming offers several benefits over most university bachelor's degrees for students hoping to go into the trades or other hands-on occupations. It's a quicker route to the workforce, for one — a bachelor's degree can take four or more years to complete while some Wyoming CTE programs can be completed in less than 12 months.
There's also a cost savings that comes with training at career and technical schools in Wyoming. Students at two-year schools in the Equality State pay roughly 30 percent less per year than university students, and the need to pay for fewer credit hours before graduating can lead to an overall lower total program cost.
Check out our list of the top campus-based and online trade schools in Wyoming to help you decide which institution might be right for you. There's also some helpful tips on how to apply for financial aid in Wyoming and information about Wyoming scholarships near the bottom of the page.
Highest-Paying and Fastest-Growing Careers in Wyoming
5 Best Trade Schools in Wyoming
We used data from the U.S. Department of Education and other trusted sources to determine the best trade and vocational schools in Wyoming in terms of affordability, schedule flexibility and student success. Check out the list below:
Students looking into trade schools in Wyoming should be sure to consider Casper College. This central Wyoming school features more than 20 degrees and certificates that can be earned entirely in the virtual classroom, and roughly 42 percent of students attend at least some of their classes online. CC also features the widest selection of programs in the state.
What vocational programs CC offers: Fully online programs here include a certificate in fire science and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees in agribusiness, office management and accounting and bookkeeping. Students who take their training on campus can choose from close to 140 programs, including degrees in construction management and construction technology and certificates in paralegal studies, statistics and marketing.
Western Wyoming Community College was another standout among online trade schools in Wyoming, reporting distance education enrollment of nearly 44 percent in 2018. Nearly 3,200 students attend classes here each semester, and the student-faculty ratio of 13:1 means that instructors should have free time to meet with students outside of class hours for extra help if needed.
What vocational programs Western offers: Western students looking to go into the rewarding and fast-paced field of emergency medicine can earn a degree in emergency management services (EMS) or paramedicine. Several industrial training programs are available as well, including degrees and certificates in automotive technology and diesel technology for aspiring mechanics and A.A.S. plans in natural gas compression technology and oil and gas technology.
According to the numbers, students who begin their training programs at Sheridan College have a habit of sticking with them. This northern Wyoming school reported the state's second-highest retention rate for first-year students and had one of the top graduation rates among the best trade and vocational schools in Wyoming. It also has the largest student body in the state, welcoming upwards of 4,100 students into its halls each term.
What vocational programs Sheridan offers: A few less-common agriculture degrees are available here, such as an associate degree in horticulture and sports turf management and a certificate in farrier science for students who want to work with horses. Future ranchers or land managers can earn an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in rangeland management.
Eastern Wyoming College put up solid numbers in the affordability category. Average net price is a measure of college cost that totals up estimated cost for tuition, fees, books, housing, food, transportation and other necessary expenses and subtracts the average amount of grant and scholarship aid from that total. The average net price at EWC was just over $5,100 for the year — the lowest such figure in the state.
What vocational programs EWC offers: The degree catalog at EWC features nearly a dozen study plans for agriculture students, including A.S. degrees in agroecology/agronomy and animal science and certificates in precision agriculture and beef production. The selection of available welding programs includes a specialist certificate and an A.A.S. in welding and joining technology.
No other school on our list reported better student success numbers than WyoTech. The graduation rate at this Laramie school was more than 80 percent in 2018, landing it the top spot in the state and a position among the 20 best trade schools nationwide in that category. What's more, former students take home an average salary of over $49,000 after ten years on the job, making it one of the ten best schools in the U.S. for graduate earnings.
What vocational programs WyoTech offers: WyoTech focuses exclusively on programs in the automotive trades. The core training plans here teach automotive technology, diesel technology and collision and refinishing technology, with specialty programs in advanced diesel, chassis fabrication, high-performance power trains and more.
How to Apply for Trade School Financial Aid in Wyoming
Even though training at career and technical schools in Wyoming tends to cost less than earning a degree at a university, financial aid can still make a difference in affordability for most students. Wyoming scholarships, grants and other programs may be available for you, if you seek them out and take the right steps.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is probably the most important document in the financial aid process. Completing your FAFSA is the only way to qualify for Pell Grants, Stafford Loans and other instruments of federal aid, and most state-based Wyoming scholarships and other aid programs also require that you have a FAFSA on file with your financial aid department. It's important to get your FAFSA filled out and turned in as early as possible — you can even submit it before you're officially accepted at your chosen school.
For more detailed information about the FAFSA and tips on how to apply for financial aid in Wyoming, take a look at the financial aid guide on this site. Here's a quick list of Wyoming scholarships and grants might be able to help you with your tuition bills:
- Wyoming Works Grant - This state-funded program is designed to help adult students advance their employment skills and awards between $1,680 and $3,360 for one year of study in an eligible college program.
- Hathaway Scholarship - Depending on their academic record at Wyoming high schools, students may qualify for between $840 and $1,680 in aid per semester, plus any available need-based bonuses.
- Douvas Scholarship - First-generation Americans who plan to complete their training at a public community college in Wyoming may qualify for this award of $500 in aid for the year.
Resources for Vocational Students and Job Seekers in Wyoming
- The career and vocational education page on the Wyoming Department of Education website can give you some information about state standards for Wyoming CTE programs.
- Learn about trade and vocational programs at public two-year schools in Wyoming at the Wyoming Community College Commission info portal.
- Only accredited schools can be counted on to deliver training that's up to the quality standards of employers and higher education registrars. The Higher Learning Commission accredits public career and technical schools in Wyoming, and private colleges earn their accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and other national entities.
Check out Wyoming's state page at Advance CTE for some statistics and other information on Wyoming CTE programs, or learn more about career technical education in Wyoming and elsewhere from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).