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College may not be for you. There’s a good chance that’s why you joined the military in the first place.
But after serving your country, you’ve decided to take the next step and get into a trade. You’ll be happy to learn that the GI Bill® does cover thousands of trade schools across the country. What are some of the big-name schools that the GI Bill® will pay for? Here’s a rundown.
Instead of listing the thousands of schools in the database, we’ve picked what we feel are the top five GI Bill® approved trade schools that have been helping veterans and their families transition to stable and rewarding civilian careers.
1. Universal Technical Institute (UTI)
A well-recognized name across the nation, UTI is a GI Bill® approved trade school that offers a 10 percent tuition discount to honorably discharged and general under honorable discharged veterans. Specializing in the automotive space, UTI offers the following programs:
- Automotive: A 51-week program, UTI’s automotive curriculum endows students with a foundational knowledge of both domestic and foreign vehicles. You’ll learn how to diagnose, maintain and repair all vehicles.
- Diesel: Consisting of 5 diesel manufacturer-specified advanced training programs, UTI’s diesel curriculum takes 45 weeks to complete. It involves a mix of hands-on instruction and online theory.
- Collision Repair: Taking between 51 and 54 weeks to complete, the auto body repair program allows students to earn an I-CAR certification: the gold standard in collision repair accreditation.
- Motorcycle: Located at the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, this 42-week course teaches you how to work on multiple brands, from Harley-Davidson to Yamaha.
- Marine: A 51-week core program, UTI’s marine curriculum offers students the chance to engage in 5 different original equipment manufacturing trainings. You’ll learn everything from basic engine theory to troubleshooting and rebuilding.
- CNC Machining: A 36-week program, the CNC machine program is offered at UTI’s NASCAR Tech campus in Mooresville, NC. You’ll learn to read blueprints, analyze geometric dimensions, and setup CNC machines.
- Welding: Finally, UTI’s 36-week welding course equips you with GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SMAW techniques, turning you into one of most skilled welders in the nation.
2. Lincoln Tech
With locations in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas, Lincoln Tech is one of the nation’s premier trade schools. Offering courses in HVAC/R, CNC machining, automotive, culinary, healthcare and information technology, Lincoln Tech is also a member of the Yellow Ribbon Program. So, if the tuition is too high for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to cover, you can tap into the Yellow Ribbon benefits to help pay for schooling.
- Outdoor labs at which students can work on condensers, mini-splits, and other HVAC systems.
- Walk-in freezers, household furnaces, and facilities that simulate duct work.
The HVAC program also includes Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification testing: a must-have accreditation for anyone who wants to get into HVAC
3. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
We know how it is. You may have wanted to work on aircraft when you entered the service, but it didn’t pan out that way. At the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), you can use your GI Bill® benefits to launch your career as an aircraft maintenance technician.
Offering two programs of study (Aircraft Maintenance and Aviation Electronics), PIA’s programs prepare you for FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification. The school’s campuses are eligible to receive VA Education Benefits covered under chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606, and 1607.
PIA gives students two options: get a diploma or an associate degree in specialized technology (AST). An AST covers general studies, propulsion systems, aircraft structures, and other aviation technology. The diploma/certificate route is a 16-month program broken up into four semesters that prepares you for FAA accreditation as a technician.
4. State Technical College of Missouri
State Technical College of Missouri is not only GI Bill®-approved, but also in an agreement with the Department of Defense. Called an Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the agreement states that State Tech delivers “educational services to military service members participating in off-duty, postsecondary education programs.”
The Memorandum of Understanding acts as a code of conduct for the college, ensuring the school’s employees don’t use “aggressive marketing” tactics attempting to delude or mislead military personnel interested in enrolling.
If you do decide to attend, you have quite the selection of programs. They have HVAC, automotive, and other courses common among other trade schools. They also offer several programs that are hard to come by:
- Electrical Distribution Systems: This program equips students with the skills and knowledge to enter careers as linemen: the utility workers who install and repair our power infrastructure.
- Heavy Equipment Technology: Ever wanted to work on bulldozers, excavators, cranes, and other construction equipment? This program provides hands-on instruction in heavy equipment service.
- Precision Machining Technology: This is for the folks who want to get into next-generation manufacturing technology. You’ll learn how to develop 3D models for rapid prototyping and craft products using CNC machining.
5. Mitchell Technical College
In addition to being a GI Bill®-approved school, Mitchell Tech also offers benefits to those currently serving. If a military service member attends 75 percent of the classes for which they’re enrolled, they’ll receive full credit for the course so long as they’ve maintained a grade of C or better.
What sort of programs do they offer? Mitchell Tech contains several schools, each of which offers different areas of study. Here are the schools that cover the trades:
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Energy Production & Transmission
- Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
- Natural Gas Technology
- Power Line Construction and Maintenance
- Utilities Technology
- Wind Turbine Technology
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Engineering Technologies
- Geospatial Technologies
- Automation Engineering Technology
- Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
- Automation Controls/SCADA
- Information Systems Technology
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Construction & Manufacturing
- Heating & Cooling Technology
- Electrical Construction & Maintenance
- Progressive Welding Technology
- Architectural Design and Building Construction
- Machining and Manufacturing
You can use the GI Bill® to pay for any school that’s listed in the Weams Institution Search. You can search by “On-the-Job-Training/Apprenticeship” or “Non College Degree,” and then list your state or territory of residence to find a trade school in your area.
