--- title: "Trade Schools in Kansas: Programs, Aid, and How to Pay | CareerDirecting" description: "Where to train for the trades in Kansas, the Kansas Promise Act Scholarship, what it covers, the two-year stay obligation, and how to get started." url: https://careerdirecting.com/trade-schools/kansas/ updated: 2026-10-08 site: CareerDirecting --- Kansas # Trade schools in Kansas Where to train, what Kansas will help pay for, and how to keep the cost down. Free ยท No college required Kansas has a strong mix of public technical colleges and community colleges, and one of the better state scholarship deals in the country: the Kansas Promise Act Scholarship can cover most or all of a technical program's cost if you stay and work in Kansas afterward. Here's how it fits together. - Public technical and community colleges anchor training in Wichita, Overland Park, and Topeka. - The Kansas Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar award for high-demand programs. - Many trades here pay above the national median - especially around Wichita and Kansas City. In short Kansans can train for the trades at public technical and community colleges like WSU Tech in Wichita, Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, and Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka, among others. The Kansas Promise Act Scholarship - a state "last dollar" award for high-demand, high-wage programs - can cover most of the cost of a certificate or two-year degree if you agree to live and work in Kansas for two years afterward. Most programs take about a year or less. [Fill out the form](#ks-form) to hear from schools near you. State money**Kansas Promise Act Scholarship (service obligation)** Types of schools**Technical colleges, community colleges, and Washburn Tech** GED**Administered by the Kansas Board of Regents** Best for**Stay-in-Kansas workers in trades and healthcareChecked against Kansas Board of Regents information** Last updated September 30, 2026. Programs and aid rules change. Confirm with the school. **On this page** 1. [Where to train in Kansas](#ks-where) 2. [What Kansas will help pay](#ks-pay) 3. [The catch: staying in Kansas](#ks-tradeoff) 4. [No GED yet?](#ks-ged) 5. [Questions from Kansas](#ks-faq) ## Where to train in Kansas Kansas maps its training across the state, so there is usually a public option within driving distance. The programs people use most for the trades are technical colleges and community colleges, where tuition is lowest and state aid works best. A few examples to start from: Wichita ### WSU Tech The state's largest technical college, with more than 100 degree and certificate options, including aviation, manufacturing, welding, and healthcare. Many of its programs are Kansas Promise eligible, which is where the full-ride scholarship applies. Its aviation and manufacturing training happens at its National Center for Aviation Training campus on North Webb Road. 100+ programsTechnical focusPromise eligible Overland Park ### Johnson County Community College Strong industrial trades and transportation programs: HVAC, welding and metal fabrication, electrical technology, plumbing technology, and automotive. Its HVAC program is the only one in Kansas accredited by PAHRA, the industry's program accreditor. Popular with working adults because of its size and location in the Kansas City metro. Kansas City areaPAHRA-accredited HVACDay and night classes Topeka ### Washburn Institute of Technology Named by the Kansas Board of Regents as one of the schools whose programs can qualify for the Kansas Promise scholarship. Another public option for people in the Topeka area who want technical training close to home. Topeka areaPromise eligible Those are examples, not a ranking - Kansas has several more technical and community colleges across the state. Tell us your ZIP code on the form and we'll match you with programs near you. We don't list every school, and schools are not ranked by quality. ## What Kansas will help pay ### Kansas money for training Kansas Promise Act Scholarship A state "last dollar" scholarship that covers the gap after other aid for eligible certificate and two-year programs at Kansas community and technical colleges, Washburn Institute of Technology, and certain private schools. It does not cover bachelor's degrees. Awards are first come, first served, so applying early matters. What it covers Programs the Board of Regents identifies as high wage, high demand, or critical need. The eligible fields include health care and information technology, among others. The obligation To keep the award, you sign an agreement to live and work in Kansas for two consecutive years after finishing. If you don't, you may have to repay it. How to apply Submit the Kansas Promise application at sfa.kansasregents.gov and complete the FAFSA. Deadlines are set each term (for example, fall 2026 applications are due October 1, 2026). Pell Grant Federal money for lower-income students. Up to about $7,400 a year, does not need to be repaid. Apply through the FAFSA at studentaid.gov - free. WIOA job training Your local Kansas workforce center can pay for training in high-demand jobs if you qualify. Ask about it before you enroll anywhere. GI Bill For veterans, covers most schools, CDL programs, and apprenticeships. Sources: Kansas Board of Regents (Promise Act Scholarship rules and application), Federal Student Aid. Amounts and rules change; confirm with the school's financial aid office. ## The catch: staying in Kansas **The Kansas Promise Scholarship is a service scholarship.** It can make training nearly free, but only if you plan to stay in Kansas. If you expect to move out of state soon after school, this one isn't for you - use the Pell Grant, WIOA, or an employer-paid route instead. Living in Kansas City, Kansas or another border town? Kansas aid follows where you live, not where the school is. If you're closer to a Missouri or Oklahoma school, ask its financial aid office what your state's rules allow. ## No GED yet? Most Kansas programs ask for a high school diploma or GED. The Kansas Board of Regents administers the GED - four subjects, pass with at least 145 on each - and there is a Kansas program called Accelerating Opportunity: Kansas that lets learners 16 and older work on their high school equivalency and a technical certificate at the same time. Free preparation classes are available through adult education centers around the state. See our [GED page](https://careerdirecting.com/ged/) for the details. ### Find Kansas schools that fit you. Tell us what you want to do and where you are. Schools near you that teach it reach out. [Find schools near me](#ks-form) ## Questions from Kansas ### Is the Kansas Promise Scholarship really free? It's a "last dollar" scholarship, which means it pays what's left of your tuition and fees after other grants and aid. For many eligible students at a community or technical college, that covers nearly everything. You still have to apply, complete the FAFSA, and enroll in an approved program - and you sign an agreement to live and work in Kansas for two years afterward. ### Which programs count for Promise? The Board of Regents approves the list each year, and it focuses on programs in high-wage, high-demand, or critical-need fields - including health care and information technology. Ask the school whether the specific program you want is Promise eligible before you count on the money. ### Do I have to go to school full time? You need to enroll in at least 6 credit hours per semester to keep the Promise award, and finish the program within 36 months of your first award. That leaves room to work while you train. Ask the school how its schedule fits around a job. ### Are apprenticeships available in Kansas? Yes - the building and electrical trades run apprenticeship programs around Wichita, Topeka, and the Kansas City area, and you earn a wage the whole time. Apprenticeships are a great fit if you can wait for the application window. Schools can point you to the local programs. ### What if I can't decide what to train for? Pick "Not sure yet" on the form. You'll hear from schools that offer several programs and can walk you through them. Reading two or three of our career pages first also helps - they spell out what each job is really like. ## Nearby - [All states](https://careerdirecting.com/trade-schools/) - [Ohio](https://careerdirecting.com/trade-schools/ohio/) - [West Virginia](https://careerdirecting.com/trade-schools/west-virginia/) - [All careers](https://careerdirecting.com/careers/) - [Paying for school](https://careerdirecting.com/paying-for-school/) - [Getting your GED](https://careerdirecting.com/ged/) --- Canonical page: https://careerdirecting.com/trade-schools/kansas/