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Measured from Pontiac, the county seat

Trade schools in Oakland County

A certificate in two semesters, a degree in two years or an apprenticeship that pays from week one. Every school a Oakland County family can choose, with what a resident pays and how far it is from Pontiac.

Compare the schools How to pay less
  1. OSTC Northeast Pontiac, about 2 miles, High school
  2. OCC Auburn Hills, about 3 miles, In-district $119
  3. OSTC Southeast Royal Oak, about 10 miles, High school
  4. OSTC Northwest Independence Township, about 11 miles, High school
  5. Plumbers Local 98 Troy, about 12 miles, Paid apprenticeship
  6. Pipefitters Local 636 Troy, about 12 miles, Paid apprenticeship
  7. OSTC Southwest Wixom, about 15 miles, High school
  8. Iron Workers Local 25 Wixom, about 15 miles, Paid apprenticeship
Straight-line miles from Pontiac. Rates are what a Oakland County resident pays.

Community colleges

Colleges for Oakland County students, cheapest first

  • In-district Fall 2026 through Summer 2027

    Oakland Community College

    $119 a billable contact hour

    The college district follows the Oakland Schools boundary, so it reaches a few addresses in Livingston, Lapeer and Washtenaw counties; parts of Novi, Northville, Clarenceville schools and parts of Oakland, Addison, Rose, Holly and Groveland townships are outside it.

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: Auburn Hills Campus, Auburn Hills

    Auburn Hills, Waterford, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, and Southfield

  • Out of district Spring 2026

    Wayne County Community College District

    $121.20 a credit hour

    WCCCD serves 32 cities and townships in Wayne County. Dearborn Public Schools residents belong to Henry Ford College's district and the Schoolcraft district covers the Livonia, Garden City, Northville, Plymouth-Canton and Clarenceville school areas.

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: Northwest Campus, Detroit

    Detroit, Taylor, Van Buren Township, and Harper Woods

  • Out of district 2026-27

    Macomb Community College

    $212 a billable contact hour

    Macomb County residents pay the resident rate. People who live where no community college district reaches pay a lower affiliate rate ($146), which covers most of Livingston and Lapeer counties.

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: M-TEC, Warren

    Clinton Township and Warren

  • Out of district 2025-26

    Schoolcraft College

    $200 a credit hour

    The district is the Clarenceville, Garden City, Livonia, Northville and Plymouth-Canton school districts.

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: Livonia Campus, Livonia

    Livonia

  • Out of district Fall 2026 (100 and 200 level)

    Henry Ford College

    $213.50 a credit hour

    In-district means you live in the Dearborn Public Schools district; residency is checked every semester.

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: Main Campus, Dearborn

    Dearborn

  • Out of district Fall 2026

    Mott Community College

    $220 a contact hour

    In-district means you live in the Genesee Intermediate School District. Lapeer County residents pay the out-district rate, including at the Lapeer Extension Center.

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: Lapeer Extension Center, Lapeer

    Lapeer

  • Out of district 2026-27

    Washtenaw Community College

    Posted rate

    Washtenaw County residents are in-district. WCC offers programs to Livingston County residents at the out-of-district rate (Policy 2105).

    Nearest campus to Pontiac: Main Campus, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor

    Ann Arbor

High school

Tech centers for Oakland County high schoolers

  • Oakland Schools Technical Campuses

    OSTC Northeast

    1371 N. Perry Street, Pontiac, MI 48340

    Avondale, Lake Orion, Oxford, Pontiac and Rochester districts

  • Oakland Schools Technical Campuses

    OSTC Northwest

    8211 Big Lake Road, Independence Township, MI 48346

    Brandon, Clarkston, Holly and Waterford districts

  • Oakland Schools Technical Campuses

    OSTC Southeast

    5055 Delemere Street, Royal Oak, MI 48073

    Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Lamphere, Madison, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Southfield and Troy districts

  • Oakland Schools Technical Campuses

    OSTC Southwest

    1000 Beck Road, Wixom, MI 48393

    Clarenceville, Farmington, Huron Valley, Novi, South Lyon, Walled Lake and West Bloomfield districts

Paid while you learn

Union training centers that take Oakland County apprentices

On the state's approved list

Short programs in Oakland County

Medical assistant 8
Nursing assistant (CNA) 5
IT support 3
HVAC technician 2
CDL truck driver 1
Electrician 1
Pharmacy technician 1

Job training in Oakland County Apprenticeships in Oakland County All trade schools

Questions

What people ask

What is the cheapest trade school for Oakland County residents?

For most residents it is Oakland Community College: $119 a billable contact hour (Fall 2026 through Summer 2027), the in-district rate.

Can I train without paying tuition?

Union apprenticeships pay you while you train, and Michigan Works! agencies can pay for approved programs for people who qualify. Michigan Reconnect covers community college tuition for eligible adults 21 and older.

Are these schools approved?

The private schools listed are on Michigan Training Connect, the state's eligible training provider list, so public training money can pay for them.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Checked October 23, 2026 on each organization's own site. Programs, rates and hours change, so call before you go.