Trade schools and technical education have experienced a significant resurgence in the United States over the past few years. Gen Z has influenced a substantial enrollment increase in vocational, technical, and trade programs. Unfortunately, only a few people realize trade school scholarships are available to help students learn a trade with minimal out-of-pocket expenses. And some of these scholarships are with the band...
Metallica, yes, the thrash rock band created in 1981, hosts The Metallica Scholars Initiative, designed to support a variety of career and technical education (CTE) programs across community colleges and technical schools.
JUMP TO APPLY FOR THE METALLICA SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Automotive Collision Repair or Automotive Restoration
CAD-A Technology
Commercial Truck Driving (CDL)
Computer Technology
CNC/Machining
Culinary Arts
Cybersecurity
Dental Hygiene
Fire Technology
Healthcare
Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
Hospitality
Industrial Automation Technician – Mechatronics
IT
Public Safety
Respiratory Therapy
Welding
The careers listed above are not a comprehensive list of eligible programs. The Metallica Scholars program supports a wide variety of workforce careers.
Anne Arundel Community College, MD
Arapahoe Community College, CO
Ashland Community and Technical College, KY
Big Sandy Community and Technical College, KY
Blue Ridge Community College, NC
Bluegrass Community and Technical College, KY
Brookhaven College, TX
Cedar Valley College, TX
Chattanooga State Community College, TN
City Colleges of Chicago, IL
Clark State Community College, OH
College of Southern Idaho, ID
College of Southern Nevada, NV
Columbus, IN (Ivy Tech Community College)
Columbus State Community College, OH
Community College of Baltimore County, MD
Community College System of New Hampshire, NH
Crowder College, MO
Cuyahoga Community College, OH
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, VA
Dallas County Community College District, TX
Delta College, MI
East Los Angeles College, CA
Eastfield College, TX
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, IA
Edison State Community College, OH
El Centro College, TX
El Camino Community College District, CA
El Paso Community College, TX
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, KY
Fort Wayne, IN (Ivy Tech Community College)
GateWay Community College, AZ
Gateway Community and Technical College, KY
Gateway Technical College, WI
Grand Rapids Community College, MI
Great Bay Community College, NH
Guam Community College, GU
Harold Washington College, IL
Hawkeye Community College, IA
Hazard Community and Technical College, KY
Henderson Community College, KY
Hillsborough Community College, FL
Hopkinsville Community College, KY
Houston Community College, TX
Howard Community College, MD
Hudson Valley Community College, NY
Hutchinson Community College, KS
Indian River State College, FL
Indianapolis, IN (Ivy Tech Community College)
Individual Colleges, State
Ivy Tech Community College, IN
James A. Rhodes State College, OH
Jefferson Community and Technical College, KY
Joliet Junior College, IL
Kennedy-King College, IL
Kentucky Community & Technical College System, KY
Kirkwood Community College, IA
Lafayette, IN (Ivy Tech Community College)
Lakeland Community College, OH
Lakes Region Community College, NH
Lane Community College, OR
Laramie County Community College, WY
Lee College, TX
Lorain County Community College, OH
Los Angeles City College, CA
Madisonville Community College, KY
Manchester Community College, NH
Maysville Community and Technical College, KY
McHenry County College, IL
Metropolitan Community College, MO
Miami Dade College, FL
Midlands Technical College, SC
Mohawk Valley Community College, NY
Monroe Community College, NY
Moreno Valley College, CA
Mott Community College, MI
Mountain View College, TX
Nashua Community College, NH
Nashville State Community College, TN
NHTI Concord's Community College, NH
Norco College, CA
North Central State College, OH
North Lake College, TX
North Seattle College, WA
Onondaga Community College, NY
Owens Community College, OH
Owensboro Community and Technical College, KY
Pima Community College, AZ
Raritan Valley Community College, NJ
Richland College, TX
Riverside Community College District, CA
River Valley Community College, NH
San Jacinto Community College District, TX
San Juan College, NM
Sinclair Community College, OH
Somerset Community College, KY
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, KY
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, KY
Spokane Community College, WA
Stark State Community College, OH
Tarrant County College District, TX
Truckee Meadows Community College, NV
University of Alaska Anchorage, AK
Virginia Western Community College, VA
Wallace State Community College, AL
West Kentucky Community and Technical College, KY
White Mountains Community College, NH
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, KS
Wilbur Wright College, IL
What is the Metallica Scholars Program?
The Metallica Scholars program is part of a larger philanthropic mission, All Within My Hands, designed to support students aiming to enter the traditional trade workforce or other applied learning fields.About Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation
James Hetfield, Metallica's lead singer, explains the heart and origin of the scholarship program in a 2021 press release, "As a touring entity, we are in direct involvement with multiple essential career choices along our path, from electrical, professional driving, culinary, mechanical maintenance, public safety, and logistics. And that just scratches the surface. Those, along with a multitude of other technical careers, make our touring and our performances possible. We are passionate and grateful to these trades and tradespeople." According to All Within My Hands, The Metallica Scholars program is a workforce education initiative under the All Within My Hands Foundation. The program was established in 2019 with 10 schools valued at approximately $100,000 and impacting more than 1,000 students. July 2025 is the seventh year of the Metallica Scholars American workforce training program.Who Can Apply for the Metallica Scholars Program?
Any student planning to attend an approved Career and Technical Education program or Community College career training program can apply for the Metallica Scholars Program.What fields does the Metallica Scholars Program support?
The Metallica Scholars program supports a wide variety of workforce careers. Past Metallica Scholars students earned scholarship money and have gone to school for skilled trades like:Participating Schools
Sixty, American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) or AACC accredited schools participate in the Metallica Scholars Program. Approved community colleges or technical schools receive scholarship funds to distribute to their students. Each school or community college establishes its own Metallica Scholars scholarship qualifications. Participating Metallica Scholars schools are listed below:How to Apply for a Metallica Scholars Scholarship
To apply for the Metallica scholarship, you'll need to:- Check the list above to see if your technical school or college is listed as a Metallica Scholars participant.
- Contact the financial aid office at your college. Ask to get a list of the school/college-specific requirements and scholarship application process to apply for the Metallica Scholars Scholarship at your college.
Apply for the Metallica Scholars Program
Deadline: Varies Award Amount: Varies The Metallica Scholars Initiative is open to students attending one of the 43 partner schools. Students must be enrolled in a career or technical education program to be considered for this award. The student's chosen education institution oversees the selection and award processes.Five Reasons to Consider the Metallica Scholars Program
- Financial Support : The program provides scholarships to students that can cover tuition, textbooks, and other educational costs.
- Focused Training : Schools associated with the Metallica Scholars program equip students with practical skills relevant to specific trades and industries.
- Industry Connections : By participating in the program, students gain access to industry connections, potential job opportunities, and networking events.
- Community Impact : By joining the program, students contribute to their local community's growth and development.
- Expanding Opportunities : The program continues to expand each year; more U.S. schools are becoming part of the Metallica Scholars network.
Why Consider a Trade or Technical Education
Trade and technical education offers hands-on training that leads directly to high-demand, high-paying jobs — often in less time and with less debt than a traditional four-year degree. These programs are ideal for students who want a clear career path and practical skills. Additionally, you can start earning sooner while continuing to grow your expertise. Trade and career technical education is just as important a step to a successful career. It should be celebrated as a positive personal advancement, just as college is. The importance of qualified blue-collar workers and ensuring the workforce has been a hot topic for a few celebrities, one being Mike Rowe from the hit TV show "Dirty Jobs" and his Work Ethic Scholarship Program. Create a free Fastweb profile to find additional scholarship opportunities for which you qualify.You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial ai...
