Despite the benefits a career-building education program can bring, all too often cost acts as a barrier to those who’d like to pursue this type of education. And even though these types of schools — such as lineman schools — come with comparatively low tuition with higher-paying career prospects, that initial investment can still be daunting. So, how much does lineman school cost? And what are some options when it comes to paying for it? We’ve got some answers to these questions below!
Lineman school cost
The median total cost of lineman school is $8,400, with some costing more than $17,000 and others costing less than $3,000. This includes more than just program tuition, though. Also incorporated into the cost can be other items such as:
- Tools
- Boots
- Application fees
While some programs include additional costs and fees in their tuition price, not all do. So you’ll want to check and make sure whether your tools and equipment are included in your tuition, or if you’ll have to make a separate purchase.
Additionally, lineman school programs typically span 10–15 weeks (with some variation) and do not require a formal degree, making it a more accessible path towards a career.
Some lineman schools can cost over $17,000,
while others can cost less than $3,000!
How can I pay for lineman school?
Upfront, in full
If you have enough money saved up to cover your program’s tuition, additional tools and equipment, and living expenses such as rent and groceries, paying out of pocket is your best option. While this method does require the highest upfront cost, you won’t owe any money in interest, there’s no credit check, and you won’t have to worry about remembering to make monthly payments. Since lineman programs can cost up to nearly $18,000, look around to see if there are any scholarships or grants available that can help ease the tuition amount!
Government-sponsored programs
Some schools are able to offer funding from certain government programs. These can include the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which provides grants and scholarships for technical schools; the GI Bill®, which provides benefits including tuition and living expense funding for veterans and service members; and more. Reach out to your school to see if they have any government-sponsored programs, and whether you may be eligible!
Pay-as-you-go payment plan
For those who are unable to pay the full tuition cost upfront and aren’t using a scholarship, grant, or employer reimbursement, some schools also offer payment plan options. This allows students to make several smaller payments over the duration of the program, in order to lessen the upfront cost. It includes no credit check and no interest — so you’ll ultimately pay less than you would with a loan. However, payments are spread over a much shorter period of time than other financing options, so although you’ll pay less overall, your monthly payments will be higher.
Student loan
A student loan can be a good choice for students who need to make the smallest monthly payments, rather than larger payments or all upfront. While not all lineman schools offer federal student loans, private student loans may still be available. Depending on the loan terms available for your program, you may have the option of full deferral, interest-only deferral, or immediate full repayment.
Climb partners with several career-training schools for financing, and we only perform a hard credit pull once a loan is funded. So, you can submit an application to check out our options with no impact to your credit score!*
There are some things you’ll want to keep in mind, though. Most loans come with an interest rate, which means you’ll ultimately end up paying more than the tuition amount. Your credit will also be pulled once loan funds are sent, so your credit score may be impacted. At the end of the day, you’ll need to consider what works best for your situation — smaller monthly payments while paying more overall, or higher monthly payments while paying less overall.
Lineman school typically spans from 10 weeks
up to 15 weeks!
Want to know more about paying for your lineman school cost with Climb?
*Climb performs a “soft” credit pull to evaluate eligibility, but this soft credit check will not affect your credit score. A hard credit pull is only performed once the loan is accepted and funded.
