Trade school already costs a lot less than a four-year degree. This scholarship can shrink that cost even further. The Home Depot Foundation, working with the SKILLED Nation, gives out scholarships to people training for careers like electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician. You don’t need a four-year degree plan, and you don’t need to work for Home Depot.
This one’s worth a look whether you’re a recent high school grad, a GED holder, or an adult looking to switch careers into a trade.
What Is the Path to Pro Scholarship?
Home Depot Foundation launched Path to Pro to help close the country’s shortage of skilled tradespeople. Since 2021, the program has awarded close to 1,000 scholarships nationwide to students training for trade careers, backed by a $50 million commitment from the Foundation.
The scholarship itself is administered through the SKILLED Nation, a nonprofit that specifically helps people afford training for careers that don’t require a four-year degree.
What Careers Does It Cover?
This particular scholarship is aimed at construction-related trades, including:
- Carpentry
- Construction management
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Plumbing
How Much Is the Award, and How Is It Paid Out?
The Path to Pro scholarships is currently $2,500. The money isn’t handed to the student directly. It’s paid straight to the school or training center once you’ve enrolled, and you’ll generally need to use it within a year of being accepted.
Because award amounts and terms can shift from cycle to cycle, it’s worth double-checking the exact figure on the application portal before you apply.
Who Can Apply?
You’re likely eligible if you:
- Are a high school senior, graduate or have a GED
- Are a U.S. resident of one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia
- Are planning to enroll, or are already enrolled, in an accredited trade or vocational program in the US within the next year
There’s no cost to apply, and applying won’t require any kind of purchase or existing relationship with Home Depot. Current Home Depot employees and their dependents aren’t eligible for this particular scholarship, and past winners of this same award can’t win it again.
When Are the Deadlines?
Applications are accepted year round, but they’re reviewed in batches four times a year. The deadlines fall on:
- The last day of March
- The last day of June
- The last day of September
- The last day of December
Winners are typically notified about four to six weeks after each deadline, so there’s no need to apply months in advance. Just get your application in before the quarter closes.
How Do You Apply?
You’ll apply directly through the SKILLED Nation’s application portal. You’ll need to create an account first if you haven’t applied to one of their scholarships before.
Why This Is Worth Considering
Trade careers are in high demand right now, and training for one typically costs a fraction of what a four-year degree runs. A scholarship like this can knock out a real chunk of that remaining cost, whether you’re 18 and just starting out or 45 and looking for a more stable, hands-on career.
Relief Recap
We’re covering this one because trade school scholarships don’t get nearly as much attention as traditional college scholarships, even though trade careers can be a faster, cheaper path to a stable income.
If you’re weighing your options, our guide to career transition and job training programs covers other free and low cost ways to retrain, and our master list of scholarships for low income students has more no-cost scholarship options worth checking out.
