Trade Schools in New Jersey 2023: Best 12 Vocational Schools

Many people in New Jersey desire higher education as it provides better working conditions and earning opportunities. However, obtaining a four-year degree is not the sole route to career stability or a good salary. An associate degree or certificate in the most in-demand fields and fastest-growing professions can lead you there. These can be obtained by attending trade schools in New Jersey.

In addition, many trade occupations in New Jersey only need one year of training or less, allowing people to start working in their chosen industry. So, if you are looking to get enrolled in a New Jersey trade school, take a look at this list of the best ones!

Best Trade Schools in New Jersey

Dental assistants, barbers, licensed practical nurses, and HVAC mechanics are some of the popular and sought-after trade occupations in New Jersey. Here are some of the best trade schools in New Jersey that offer them and more.

1. Jersey College School of Nursing

Jersey College School of Nursing offers an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Practical Nursing diploma. These programs will lead you to become a Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse and make you eligible for the NCLEX-PN exam. Students can also enroll in evening classes for the RN and LPN programs. The programs incorporate intensive coursework, challenging assignments, skill labs, and clinical experiences.

Flexible curricula of the evening classes help students who have families and day jobs and offer the same caliber of nursing education in a night program as you would receive during the day. You can fit in all the coursework and clinical hours necessary for a nursing certificate or degree while still managing your other commitments.

The school offers financial assistance in the form of federal aid for eligible candidates. To enhance or replace federal financial help, the college also aids prospective students in locating state and private financing. The Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) has given Jersey College its accreditation.

2. Atlantic County Institute of Technology

Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) has a cutting-edge campus where students can enroll in any of the 17 vocational and technical programs that it offers. The school prepares students to enter the workforce, professional programs, or further education. Students get to hone their skills through a specialized curriculum, hands-on experience, and community-based partnerships.

The program offered at the institute includes automotive technology, aviation studies, fine arts, computer-aided drafting and design, health and physical education, dental assisting, culinary arts, computer science and programming, medical assistant, world languages, building trades, and Air Force JROTC, among others.

Some of the programs offered let you earn college credits if you wish to continue with further education. Students are enrolled through a discussion with the admission committee to learn their interests and aptitude, work habits, academic performance, and other criteria. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has accredited Atlantic Cape Community College. The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Committee has granted the Culinary Arts program accreditation.

3. Camden County College

One of New Jersey’s largest and most sought-after community colleges is Camden County College. The institute is an essential part of the community that offers workforce development, cultural events, and transfer education. The college provides more than 100 degree and diploma programs to help you launch into your dream profession or further your education.

The school offers associate degrees and certificates in a range of trade fields. Some of the programs include early childhood education, criminal justice, automotive general technician, licensed practical nurse to registered nurse, veterinary nursing, dental assisting, medical coding, computer science, management of information systems, cybersecurity, and technical studies, among several others.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has granted Camden County College accreditation. The school offers various types of grants and work-study programs to aid your financial needs during your education. The college has a dedicated financial aid staff to help you with your choices.

4. Rowan College at Burlington County

Rowan College at Burlington County is a public community college in Burlington County that provides innovative, top-notch, and reasonably priced educational opportunities to students to help them get started in the workforce. To prepare students for job and academic development, create, support, and promote participation in experiential learning activities.

The school offers a range of associate degrees and certificates in a wide variety of fields. The programs include accounting, administrative assistant, business management technology, Certified Nursing Assistant apprenticeship program, education, electrocardiography technician, coding certificate, cooking and baking, and dental hygiene, among plenty of others.

The average cost of the programs offered is $13,000. Rowan College offers grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities to fund educational expenses. The school has been granted accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

5. Passaic County Community College

Passaic County Community College is an affordable, two-year vocational college that offers a wide range of programs in a variety of fields. With career support services and providing transfer solutions, a college is a great option for many students. They also gain career enrichment opportunities early on in their program.

The programs offered include technical studies, teacher education, public health, radiography, pastry and baking arts, nurse education, medical informatics, management information system, hospitality management, homeland security, graphic design and digital media, journalism, electronic engineering technology, and various others.

The school provides financial aid, scholarships, grants, and payment plans to help you with your college education funding. You can get more information by scheduling a virtual meeting with the staff. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has granted accreditation to Passaic County Community College. On the advice of MAERB, the PCCC Medical Assistant Program was granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

6. County College of Morris

County College of Morris (CCM) has served the educational and training requirements of Morris County citizens and companies. The outstanding programs and services offered show the college’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, educational progress, cultural enrichment, and workforce development.

Along with a comprehensive selection of certificate and career development programs, the institution provides more than 45 associate degree programs. The programs offered include animation, assembly and testing, biomedical equipment, chemical technology, childcare specialist, data analytics, hospitality management, human services, nursing, and several others.

The college has more than 200 transfer agreements with several colleges and universities. Graduates from the school have the opportunity to transfer to the greatest four-year colleges in the state and the country. Eligible candidates can apply for financial aid the college offers to support their funding.

7. Sussex County Community College

Sussex County Community College is a two-year community college that is accredited. To contribute to the economic success of the area, Sussex offers 31 career and technical programs and over 38 programs aimed at transferring to four-year schools. To meet New Jersey’s expanding demand for skilled labor, Sussex provides a wide range of career and technical programs.

Accounting, architecture design, child development specialist, digital forensics, nurse education program, paralegal studies, building construction technology, diesel service technology, optics technology, welding, electrical lines worker, machine tool technology, and many other options are available for students.

After graduating, students can move into one of the 32 Associate of Applied Science programs offered by SCCC. In addition, the college offers 18 professional certificates to further your career in your field. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Committee on Higher Education has accredited Sussex County Community College.

8. Mercer County Community College (MCCC)

Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is a holistic educational institution with public funding and open admission. Founded in 1966, the college offers options for higher education with plenty of possibilities, including 30 credit certificate programs and 70 associate degree options. Day, evening, and weekend sessions are offered with flexible scheduling to help students achieve their goals.

Security systems technology, radiography, public health, physical therapist assistant, paralegal, nursing, medical laboratory technology, digital media arts, culinary arts, aviation management, information technology, heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning; hotel, restaurant, and institution management; early childhood education, and many other program options are available.

With the help of transfer agreements, degrees and courses from MCCC are accepted by several senior colleges. Most financial help for students is given in the form of grants through initiatives supported by the federal and state governments. Financial assistance options for qualified students are provided by the federal government, the State of New Jersey, and Mercer County Community College.

9. Rowan College South Jersey

Rowan College South Jersey (RCSJ) aids students in bridging the gap between education and employment. The college serves the region of South Jersey as a social and cultural center as well. The college aims to help people build their careers by giving students a solid foundation.

The college offers 126 degrees and certificates in fields including behavioral sciences and Law & Social Justice, education & humanities, career & technical education, nursing & health professions, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The school also offers career training programs in allied health, advanced manufacturing, information technology, financial services, transportation, logistics, and distribution, and retail, tourism, and hospitality.

The college offers several scholarship opportunities to eligible students to fund their educational finances. The Middle States Council on Higher Education has granted accreditation to Rowan College of South Jersey.

10. Bergen Community College

The main campus of Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, New Jersey. It has a wealth of physical resources, including the nation’s top STEM Student Research Center, the only integrated teaching center for health professions in the area, and the Technology Education Center. The college offers more than 120 degrees and certificate programs in a wide range of fields.

The school offers associate degrees in a variety of programs, including liberal arts, fine and performing arts, engineering sciences, professional studies, basic structure, health professions, and career technologies. The one-year certificate programs include computer-aided drafting, technical support, culinary arts, database programming and administration, hospitality management and event planning, legal nurse consultant, and many others.

The instructors at Bergen Community College are specialists who are committed to helping students learn and achieve. You can take the tests that are necessary for your courses, including those for competency, placement, challenges, waivers, and special accommodations. The New Jersey Community College Opportunity Grant provides eligible students an opportunity for a tuition-free college experience at Bergen.

11. Raritan Valley Community College

Raritan Valley Community College provides state-of-the-art educational training to get you ahead in your field. You get to learn in a tight-knit community where you get plenty of opportunities to engage socially to develop your skills. Enrollment and transfer assistance, services for students with disability, and a childcare center are all part of the college.

The college offers career training programs in advanced manufacturing, environment control/HVAC, cosmetology, automotive technology, esthetics, commercial energy management, and apprenticeship opportunities. It also offers a litany of degrees and certificate programs in arts & design, humanities, social sciences & education, health science education, communication and languages, and many others.

The school offers many financial aid programs and scholarships to students learning part-time and full-time to help them with educational funding. You also have different state, federal, and institutional options for financial assistance. With New Jersey Community College Opportunity Grant, you can earn your degrees, certificates, and training free of cost. The Middle States Council on Higher Education has granted accreditation to Raritan Valley Community College.

12. Cumberland County Technical Education Center

Located in Millville, New Jersey, Cumberland County Technical Education Center is well suited for fostering the skills and passions you need to excel in your career. It is a four-year public vocational high school where every graduate picks up a plethora of knowledge that sets them on the path to success in life and their chosen field. The instruction focuses on helping students develop the abilities they need to have successful careers as well as what they can accomplish with their knowledge.

The college offers programs in the fields of automotive technology, construction trades, cosmetology, culinary arts, engineering technology, health science and medicine, information technology, law enforcement, studio production and broadcasting, and welding technology.

The school offers over 150 scholarship opportunities to help students fund their college expenses without worry. The career services center offers assistance with resume writing, cover letters, job interview preparation, paid on-the-job training, and an early work release program.

Winding Up

Since the average cost of college is higher in New Jersey compared to National Average, many students prefer to join trade schools. A two-year program in the state is much cheaper than a 4-year degree and provides the opportunity to get employed right after or during the training.