Lineman School Cost: Tuition, Fees & Total Price

Lineman school trains people to climb poles, work around energized equipment and build and repair the electric grid. Programs run from a few months at private training centers to two-year degrees at community colleges, and the price depends heavily on which route you take.

No reliable national average is published for lineman school, so this guide compares two real price lists: a private training center in Georgia and a public college program in Minnesota. They show what tuition looks like in each model and which extras can add thousands of dollars.

The private center in Georgia lists tuition of $17,470 for its electrical lineworker program. Tuition alone is not the full cost, though. The same price list shows several required items that are charged separately.

The extras include a lab fee of $950, a training manual at $225, boots and tools at $3,080, and Class A CDL training at $2,195. A student who pays tuition plus each of these should plan for a total well above the tuition line. Ask the school to add them up in writing, along with the application fee.

Why a CDL appears on a lineman price list

Many utility employers want line workers to hold a commercial driver's license because the work involves heavy trucks. Some programs include CDL training in the package, and others leave it to the student. If a school does not include it, look up what a CDL course costs in your area and add it to your budget.

Public colleges offer another route. Minnesota State publishes a tuition calculator for its electrical line worker program, a two-year associate of applied science degree of 68 credits.

Tuition for the full degree is $15,663.80 at the rate listed, with fees of $2,329.48. Tools are a separate item and the college lists them at $2,400 – $7,500, depending on the tool options a student selects. A degree takes longer than a short training course, but it also includes general education credits and may carry over to further study.

The two programs are not the same product, which explains the difference in figures.

The Georgia center lists $17,470 for its electrical lineworker program. Minnesota State lists $15,663.80 for the full associate degree. Several reasons may explain the gap and the spread beyond it:

• Program length and format. A short, hands-on course and a two-year degree contain different amounts of instruction.
• Public versus private. Public colleges may price tuition by the credit, and private centers often set one program price.
• Residency. Public college rates can differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Check the rate that applies to you.
• What is included. Tools, CDL training and lab time are bundled at some schools and billed separately at others.
• Date. Price sheets change, so confirm current rates with the school.

Line work requires equipment, and the equipment is not cheap. Plan for:

• climbing gear, boots and hand tools
• a lab or training-site fee
• a training manual or textbooks
• CDL training, exam and license fees
• a medical exam or drug screen, which employers and schools often require
• housing and travel if the school is far from home

Housing in particular can be the largest cost at a residential training center, and the price lists above do not include it. Ask whether the school offers housing assistance and what it costs.

Financing varies by school. Public colleges generally take part in federal student aid, while some private training centers do not, so check before you assume that FAFSA applies. The financial aid office at each school can tell you whether the program qualifies, and the federal government explains the rules at studentaid.gov.

Other possibilities include scholarships from electric cooperatives and utilities, workforce training grants, veterans' benefits and employer sponsorship. A few utilities also run their own apprenticeships, which pay a wage while you train. Ask local utilities and your state workforce agency what is available. For a loan or payment plan, a licensed financial advisor can help you weigh the options.

Look beyond the sticker price:

1. What is the total cost with tools, fees, CDL and housing?
2. How long is the program, and does it meet what local employers want?
3. Does the school list job placement results and the employers that hire its graduates?
4. Are there equipment or tool packages you can buy less expensively elsewhere?
5. What happens if you have to leave partway through?

Talk to a local utility or cooperative about where they hire from. Their preference can matter as much as the price.