Technical and Trade Schools NAICS 6115

Mar 19, 2026 - Trump Administration Begins Moving Federal Student Loans To Treasury Department

• The Trump administration is attempting to move government supervision of federal student loan debt to the Treasury Department from the Education Department. The three-phase plan would eventually include some aspects of managing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form, which can help prospective students obtain federal student loans, grants, and other financial aid to pay for some trade or technical schools and vocational training. Some advocates for student loan borrowers and some college financial aid officers are worried about the short- and long-term impacts of the change in federal financial aid policy, according to USA Today. Technical and trade schools may be negatively impacted if enrollment decreases because prospective students lose access to loans. "By leveraging Treasury’s world-renowned expertise in finance and economic policy, we are confident that American students, borrowers, and taxpayers will finally have functioning programs after decades of mismanagement," US Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.
• About 42% of Gen Zers are currently working in or pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job, according to Resume Builder. Technical and trade schools are likely to benefit from increasing interest in blue-collar and skilled trade work. About 30% of those choosing to train for such work said that trade jobs offer better long-term prospects, while 19% said they were unable find a job in their original field of study at a college or university. About 50% of Gen Zers surveyed by Indeed in April 2025 said that college wasn’t worth it. Indeed cited wage benefits, degree saturation, and rising living costs as potential problems with a traditional higher education path.

• Trade occupations tend to have fewer layoffs than other industries, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in a high-paying profession like tech or business are four times more likely to experience a layoff than those in building, manufacturing, and similar jobs. Trade and vocational programs vary widely in cost. The average tuition at two-year institutions ranges from $4,000 per year at public institutions to $19,500 at private ones, according to The National Center for Education Statistics.
• Technical and trade school revenue increased 10.3% year over year and 12.4% quarter over quarter in Q2 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. Technical and trade school industry employment has rebounded following a steep, pandemic-driven drop in 2020 and is slightly above pre-pandemic levels in late 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Technical and trade school revenue is forecast to increase at a 4.52% compounded annual rate from 2025 to 2029, faster than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Institutions generate the majority of revenue by charging tuition and fees for technical and trade educational programs. Schools may also receive contributions, gifts, or grants from public or private sources.