Scholarships, apprenticeships and free or low-cost training in New England, with a source link and last-checked date on every listing.
Scholarships, apprenticeships and free training in New England
Find real programs for students and career changers in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island: free-college programs, apprenticeship doors, free or low-cost trade training, and scholarships with dates. Each listing links to the page it was read from and shows when we last checked it.
Confirm before you act. Rules and dates change. Check the provider's page, and never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship. How to spot scams. New to this? Start here.
Free or low-cost training for people 16+ who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. and are unemployed or underemployed (part-time, temporary, unstable and career-change workers may qualify). You register, complete a skills inventory within seven days, then work with a career coach.
Who it is for (as stated)
16+; authorized to work; unemployed or underemployed (as stated).
State office supporting paid registered apprenticeships that combine on-the-job work and classroom instruction, with a portable credential at completion.
Covers the gap between your federal and state grants and tuition plus mandatory fees at CT State Community College. First-come, first-served funding, not income-based, and not available for summer term. Applies to the first 72 earned credit hours.
Who it is for (as stated)
Connecticut resident; high school graduate (GED and homeschool count); first attended college in Fall 2020 or later; 6+ credits a semester in a degree or credit-bearing certificate; FAFSA.
Cost or award (as stated)
Tuition and mandatory fees gap covered while funds last (as stated)
Deadline or timing
CT's student aid page says apply by July 15 for priority; later applicants can still apply, especially for spring, while funds last.
Source:https://ctstate.edu/free-tuition Last verified: . Read on the program's own or a government/college page. Confirm with the provider before applying.
Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts
Awards of $500 to $2,500 (non-renewable) for students in a formal construction training program from a licensed provider, a state- or federally-approved construction apprenticeship, or a construction bachelor's program. Preference to Massachusetts applicants. Awards are based on financial need, academics, activities and work experience.
Who it is for (as stated)
Students in construction training, approved construction apprenticeships or construction degrees; at least one full year remaining after the deadline (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
$500-$2,500 per award (as stated)
Deadline or timing
2026 deadline was May 29, 2026 (apprenticeship version for the Gould Construction Institute, and the collegiate version). Check for the 2027 cycle.
State guide to finding a registered apprenticeship; the state's 'Upcoming Apprentice Recruitments' page posts recruitment notices (recent items include union Local recruitments, sprinkler fitter organizations, early-childhood teacher apprenticeships, and culinary and housekeeping pre-apprenticeships). The page itself says it may not show every opportunity and suggests working with your local MassHire Career Center.
Who it is for (as stated)
Varies by program (Massachusetts law generally requires apprentices to be 16 or older).
Cost or award (as stated)
Apprenticeships are paid jobs with training (as described by the state).
Deadline or timing
Each recruitment sets its own dates; see the state's list.
Free 18-week, 300-hour welding program with hands-on practice, grant-funded through a partnership with Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School and area welding companies and funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
Who it is for (as stated)
18 or older; Massachusetts resident; U.S. high school diploma or equivalency; MA driver's license or photo ID; authorized to work in the U.S.; pass CORI/SORI background check; reliable transportation; ready to work after completion (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Free (as stated)
Deadline or timing
Application for MA residents: June 1 to December 31, 2026 (as shown on the page).
Free pre-apprenticeship with 200+ hours of career-readiness and hands-on skills training to prepare you to compete for union apprenticeship openings. The first step is an information session. The page notes it is free to participants but not free to provide, so it looks for committed applicants.
Who it is for (as stated)
At least 18; resident of Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex or Essex County; high school diploma or equivalency; unemployed or under-employed; authorized to work in the U.S.; licensed driver; drug-free; proficient in English; no prior affiliation with a Massachusetts trades union (all as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Free to participants (as stated)
Deadline or timing
Information sessions held regularly through the year; sign up on the program page.
Emerge Career, listed by MassHire Central Career Centers (Worcester)
MassHire Central lists Emerge Career training in HVAC, diesel technician and CDL at no cost; the HVAC page says Emerge covers tuition, exam and permit fees, required physicals and transportation support, plus coaching and job placement.
Who it is for (as stated)
HVAC page: you or an immediate family member is or was justice-involved, and you live in Massachusetts. Check the diesel and CDL pages for their own rules.
Massachusetts public community colleges / Mass.gov
Covers tuition and fees at any of Massachusetts' 15 public community colleges for eligible students of any age, in approved certificate or associate programs (the Mass.gov page says EMT and paramedic initial-training courses are also eligible). Students may qualify for an allowance of up to $1,200 a year for books and supplies depending on income, and some for a second allowance.
Who it is for (as stated)
Massachusetts residents (one year) or High School Completers; no bachelor's degree; at least 6 credits a semester in an approved program; FAFSA (or MASFA if not FAFSA-eligible); not in default on student loans.
Cost or award (as stated)
Tuition and fees covered for eligible students (as stated)
Deadline or timing
No single state deadline: Mass.gov says awards are made by each college at enrollment through the year. Each college sets its own admission deadlines (for example, MassBay's page lists Aug 28, 2026 for Fall 2026 and says it is accepting Spring, Summer and Fall 2027 applications).
Catalog of no-cost training pending eligibility. Items listed when we read it included a 220-hour diesel technician course, a 10-week wastewater treatment operator course, a 5-week home energy rating field inspector mentorship, an 8-week biomanufacturing technician pathway, Mass Save Clean Energy Pathways, Worcester Building Pathways, and CDL permit training.
Who it is for (as stated)
Varies by program; the page says programs are free pending eligibility requirements.
Massachusetts Building and Construction Trades Council (MBTU)
Directory of union building-trades apprenticeships. The page says the trades and contractor partners run more than 40 joint apprenticeship training centers in Massachusetts, apprentices do not pay for training, and training runs two to five years depending on trade. It also lists pre-apprenticeship programs (Building Pathways in greater Boston and Worcester-Fitchburg, Building Pathways South, and Community Works in western Massachusetts).
For Maine residents in vocational or technical school or a community college trade program (mechanics, welding, electrician certification, plumbing and others), with a preference for U.S. veterans. Handled through the Adult Learner Scholarship application.
Who it is for (as stated)
Maine residents; veterans preferred (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Not stated
Deadline or timing
Same application and dates as the MaineCF Adult Learner Scholarship.
Interactive map and searchable table of registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in Maine. You apply through the employer; openings also appear on Maine JobLink with the Apprenticeship filter. The pre-apprenticeship path is for students and adults age 16 or older and, per the state, can carry up to 1,000 hours of on-the-job experience into a registered apprenticeship.
Who it is for (as stated)
At least 16; committed to classroom and on-the-job learning (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Paid jobs with training (as described)
Deadline or timing
Each employer sets its own dates.
Source:https://www.maine.gov/labor/node/6/ Last verified: . Read on the program's own or a government/college page. Confirm with the provider before applying.
Renewable support for adult learners in Maine pursuing trade training, certification or licensure (not four-year degrees). Funds may be used for tools, supplies and texts after tuition is paid. Applied for through the Adult Learner Scholarship application.
Who it is for (as stated)
Maine adult learners in trade training (see the Adult Learner Scholarship eligibility).
Cost or award (as stated)
Not stated
Deadline or timing
Same application and dates as the MaineCF Adult Learner Scholarship.
For nontraditional Maine students: adults over 25, full-time workers, parents, financially independent students, people without a standard diploma, or delayed enrollees (meet one). Short-term credential award (programs under one semester ending in a certificate) has a rolling deadline and most awards of $200 to $1,200; long-term award (one- or two-year certificates or degrees) mostly $1,000 to $2,500 per semester. Several named funds apply through the same application, including trades-focused funds.
Who it is for (as stated)
Maine resident who meets one nontraditional criterion; programs must be accredited by a nationally recognized agency (unless self-directed); FAFSA if eligible. Applications are pre-screened and competitive (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Short-term: most $200-$1,200. Long-term: most $1,000-$2,500 per semester (as stated)
Deadline or timing
Long-term award: deadlines June 15 and November 15 each year (next: Nov 15). Short-term award: rolling; the page (dated Aug 21, 2026) warns decisions may take three-plus weeks and that programs that start before a decision are not funded.
Note: The November date is the next recurring date; the page does not print the year.
Last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition at Maine's seven community colleges for recent high school (or HiSET/GED) graduates. No separate scholarship application: you are considered when you apply to a Maine community college. Short certificate programs in trades such as heating or plumbing count if they are one-year credentials.
Who it is for (as stated)
High school diploma or equivalent from 2024 or later; Maine resident for a full year before admission and while enrolled; degree or one-year credential program; accept federal and state grants first. No income or age limit (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
100% of tuition for 2026 graduates and later, after federal and state grants (as stated)
Deadline or timing
Enroll no later than Summer 2027 (2024 graduates), Summer 2028 (2025 graduates), Summer 2029 (2026 graduates), per MCCS.
Source:https://www.mccs.me.edu/free-college/ Last verified: . Read on the program's own or a government/college page. Confirm with the provider before applying.
Trade scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for graduating seniors of four western Maine high schools (Telstar, Mountain Valley, Gould Academy, Buckfield). Listed as an example of how local the best-fit awards can be.
Who it is for (as stated)
Graduating seniors from Telstar High School, Mountain Valley High School, Gould Academy or Buckfield Jr.-Sr. High School (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Up to $10,000 per year (as stated)
Deadline or timing
2026 application closed Monday, May 11 (10 PM). Watch for the 2027 window, which opened in April this year.
Posts current New Hampshire registered apprenticeship openings from employers and sponsors; when we read it these included electrician (IBEW Local 490), welder/fitter, HVAC, carpenter, precision quality inspector, and others. The state workforce agency says you generally must be 16, have a high school diploma or GED, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and be able to do the physical tasks.
Who it is for (as stated)
Generally 16+, diploma or GED, citizen or permanent resident (per NHES); each employer sets its own requirements.
Scholarship for students of any age in short-term vocational or technical study such as automotive, plumbing, heating, construction, advanced manufacturing, computer repair or licensed nursing assistant. One online application matches you to funds you qualify for. Notification within six weeks of submission.
Who it is for (as stated)
New Hampshire students of any age in short-term vocational/technical programs; the committee prefers traditional trade sectors and applicants who have had little other training opportunity. Citizenship is not considered (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
Award amount not stated for this program on the page
Deadline or timing
Open enrollment through Friday, December 11, 2026, 5:00 pm ET.
NH Employment Security (NHES) via Nashua Community College's Workforce Solutions page
Nashua Community College's page says WIOA (for dislocated workers and other eligible adults) and WorkNowNH (for people on Medicaid or Granite Advantage) help students pay for approved programs. For WorkNowNH it lists up to $5,000 in tuition, $500 for books, fees and supplies, travel reimbursement and child-care registration help.
Who it is for (as stated)
WIOA: laid off, unemployed, public-benefit recipients or below a self-sufficiency income guideline (see the page). WorkNowNH: enrolled in Granite Advantage or traditional Medicaid.
Cost or award (as stated)
Varies; benefit amounts as listed by the college (as stated)
Deadline or timing
Ongoing; talk to a Career Navigator before enrolling. Some funding requires enrollment in the state program before classes start (a Reddit commenter in r/skilledtrades said the same; confirm with the program).
Tuition-free course on workplace skills (resume, interviews, communication, teamwork) with a WorkReadyNH certificate and the National Career Readiness Certificate. It is a soft-skills program, not trade training, but it is a free first step for job seekers.
Who it is for (as stated)
New Hampshire residents age 16 or older; class taught in English.
Cost or award (as stated)
Tuition free (as stated)
Deadline or timing
Ongoing; class schedules are posted by the colleges.
State page for finding a Rhode Island apprenticeship: apply directly to the employer or program sponsor. The state describes apprenticeships as paid earn-and-learn programs.
Two free classes for Rhode Island residents who previously attended CCRI in a certificate or associate program, have no associate or bachelor's degree, and have not attended any college in the previous two semesters. Last-dollar, first-come, first-served; does not cover books.
Who it is for (as stated)
RI resident; previously enrolled at CCRI in a certificate/associate program; no associate or bachelor's degree; no college for the prior two semesters; complete 2026-27 FAFSA.
Cost or award (as stated)
Two classes free (as stated)
Deadline or timing
The page says the scholarship is currently offered for the Fall 2026 semester; check CCRI for later terms.
Source:https://www.ccri.edu/momentum/ Last verified: . Read on the program's own or a government/college page. Confirm with the provider before applying.
Tuition-free associate degree at CCRI, for Rhode Islanders who enroll in the term right after high school or GED. The CCRI page lists an age limit of 18 or younger (19-21 can appeal), so it is generally not an option for career changers; see CCRI Momentum below for adults.
Who it is for (as stated)
Rhode Island resident; high school or GED graduate; 18 or younger (appeal at 19-21); associate degree program; 2026/27 FAFSA; enroll immediately after graduation.
Cost or award (as stated)
Tuition-free as stated
Deadline or timing
Tied to the term right after graduation.
Note: Included mainly so adults know it likely does not apply to them.
Source:https://www.ccri.edu/ripromise/ Last verified: . Read on the program's own or a government/college page. Confirm with the provider before applying.
DLT lists free or reduced-cost training programs, including Real Jobs Rhode Island programs that are free to admitted participants. You find a program that is currently recruiting and contact the provider, or meet a DLT job coach to check eligibility for training funds.
Union electrical apprenticeship. The page says it requires 8,000 on-the-job hours and four years of evening classes (144 hours a year), accepts employment applications year-round, and accepts apprenticeship applications from June 15 to August 1 each year.
Who it is for (as stated)
See the local's application page.
Cost or award (as stated)
Paid on-the-job training; see the page for details
Deadline or timing
Annual application window: June 15 to August 1 (2026 window has passed; next expected from June 15, 2027 as stated each year).
Need-based Vermont grant for non-degree or non-matriculated courses and programs at VSAC-approved schools or businesses that help you get or improve a job. Up to 2 courses per term, 2 terms per year, 6 terms total. The amount depends on financial need and the cost of the course, up to a yearly maximum.
Who it is for (as stated)
Vermont resident for one year before class starts; U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (others use a pathway application); financial need; high school diploma/GED (or not in traditional high school for 3 months); approved non-degree program.
Cost or award (as stated)
Grant amount depends on need and course cost (as stated)
Deadline or timing
For classes starting Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027, while funding lasts (first-come, first-served per VSAC). VSAC's FAQ says you can still apply for a course you already finished if it began in the funded year.
State steps for starting an apprenticeship: pick a trade, read the Apprenticeship Exploration Guides (carpenter, electrician, plumber and others), and contact employers. Vermont says you do not apply to the state; because an apprenticeship is a job, you have to be hired. Use the Apprentice Job Finder, the list of participating employers, or the VermontJobLink board.
Adults 18+ can seek WIOA-funded training through Vermont Job Centers. Eligibility described by the state includes unemployment, recent SNAP or TANF receipt, low income or a basic-skills deficiency, with priority to public-assistance recipients, low-income people and the basic-skills deficient. You make a training plan and choose a program on the state's Eligible Training Provider List.
Who it is for (as stated)
Adults 18+ meeting WIOA rules (see the state page).
Locate your nearest American Job Center for free career counseling, job-search help and training referrals. Counselors can tell you whether WIOA training funds (often an Individual Training Account for programs on your state's approved list) fit your situation.
Who it is for (as stated)
Open to the public; training funds depend on WIOA eligibility.
Search open apprenticeship job opportunities nationwide by occupation and location, and a Partner Finder to learn when programs are accepting applications. Results are tagged as Registered Occupation or Registered Partner.
SkillPointe Foundation for Stanley Black & Decker / DEWALT
$5,000 one-time scholarships for students in U.S. or Canadian skilled-trades programs (construction, electrical, HVAC and related fields). The 2025-26 cycle opened Nov 4, 2025 and closed Feb 28, 2026; the page offers an Interest List for the next window.
Who it is for (as stated)
Enrolled in or accepted to a post-secondary skilled-trades program; service-industry programs such as healthcare, culinary and cosmetology are not eligible; one-time award (as stated).
Cost or award (as stated)
$5,000 (as stated)
Deadline or timing
2026 cycle closed February 28, 2026. Last cycle's window opened in early November; watch for the next one.
SkillPointe Foundation (Home Depot Foundation's Path to Pro routes applicants here)
One-time $1,000 grants for people in skilled-trades training that does not require a four-year degree (construction, energy, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare and others). Applicants stay eligible until they finish training. The Home Depot Foundation's page says its Path to Pro scholarship is open to anyone pursuing skilled trades training, accepted year-round and approved quarterly. SkillPointe also offers a Universal Application that checks your eligibility for its other scholarships.
Who it is for (as stated)
Anyone in skilled-trades training in any U.S. state, per the Perry Technical Institute listing of the program; SkillPointe's list gives details for each scholarship.
Cost or award (as stated)
$1,000 one-time grant (as stated on the third-party listing)
Deadline or timing
Quarterly dates listed by SkillPointe: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31. Next: December 31, 2026.
Source:https://www.skillpointefoundation.org/es/scholarship-list Last verified: . Official SkillPointe list page (Spanish version) plus Home Depot's page; the $1,000 amount was read on a school's listing of the scholarship (Perry Technical Institute), not SkillPointe's own English page, which could not be loaded.. Confirm with the provider before applying.
Beginning July 1, 2026, students can receive a Workforce Pell Grant for an eligible short-term program of 150-599 clock hours lasting at least 8 but fewer than 15 weeks. Students must meet normal Pell eligibility including financial need and attend a program approved by the state governor and the Secretary of Education. Ask the school whether a specific program is approved before counting on it.
Who it is for (as stated)
Pell-eligible students in approved short-term programs.
Cost or award (as stated)
Federal grant; amount depends on Pell rules
Deadline or timing
Ongoing; file the FAFSA and ask the school which programs qualify.
Scholarship for people enrolling in approved skilled-trade training. The 2026 window runs Feb 23 to Oct 31, 2026 with four decision rounds. Application steps listed by the foundation: enroll in an approved program, sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, answer four questions, make a video, have two references, verify school costs and provide a transcript.
Who it is for (as stated)
People entering approved skilled trade programs (see the foundation's page for the current program list and rules).
Cost or award (as stated)
Varies (not a fixed amount)
Deadline or timing
Final 2026 deadline: October 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (decisions announced in December). Earlier rounds closed Apr 30, Jun 30 and Aug 30.
Source:https://mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/ Last verified: . Read on the program's own or a government/college page. Confirm with the provider before applying.