Whether you鈥檝e just graduated from high school or are already a working professional looking for a career change, college and trade schools are both viable education options. Each provides distinct advantages and opportunities.
College is often associated with an academic education that allows students to prepare for a wide range of occupations within a field of study. Trade schools are known to offer more specialized training, which may be better suited to specific technical vocations.
When considering trade school versus college, you must factor in your career goals. College may be the right choice if you plan to pursue a degree in a field that requires a breadth of skills, such as business or IT. Trade school, on the other hand, can be more suitable for those looking to enter trades and technical fields that rely on specialized training, such as carpentry or plumbing.
If you鈥檙e deciding on which path to choose, the following explores benefits and opportunities of both options, so you can be better prepared to make an informed choice.听
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A a type of educational institution that offers specialized, career-specific training in manual and technical vocations. Trade schools prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills to work in specific fields, such as:
This type of education teaches how to apply trade-specific knowledge, tools and techniques, giving students the foundation to gain entry-level employment in a skilled trade of their choice.
A college is an educational institution where students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. Colleges are designed to provide a comprehensive education that covers practical and theoretical aspects of a chosen field of study with a breadth of knowledge.
At the undergraduate collegiate level, students typically take general education courses 听as part of their degree program in several areas, such as:
General education courses help students learn how to think critically, analyze data and solve problems 鈥 skills essential for many careers or to be a valuable contributor to society at large. The general education portion of an undergraduate degree program is combined with a major or required course of study portion of the degree, which provides students a depth of knowledge in their chosen discipline to contribute to their field of study.
Beyond undergraduate programs, colleges also typically offer graduate-level education for those looking to pursue a master鈥檚 degree or research in a particular field. Graduate-level degree programs are designed to refine students鈥 knowledge and skills even further and can sometimes include real-life applications.
Before choosing a program, it鈥檚 important to consider your educational and career goals as well as the following processes, requirements and costs.
Admissions for trade schools may require only a high school diploma or a , but applicants鈥 aptitude for the trade they want to pursue will impact their admission.
On the other hand, college admission requirements tend to require a formal application and other materials such as letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores and essays. In addition, college admissions processes can be competitive because of the limited number of spaces available and the number of applicants.
There are also open enrollment institutions such as 爱污传媒. No SAT or GMAT scores are required to be admitted. Traditional essays are also not required. The following are required for eligibility:
The time to complete a trade school program is typically shorter than that of college degrees. Trade schools usually offer one-year or two-year certifications or two-year specialized associate degrees. At colleges, bachelor鈥檚 degree programs usually take four years to finish. Shorter trade school programs can benefit those looking to enter the job market sooner or with limited time and resources to devote to a college degree.
Nevertheless, there are ways for college students to earn their degrees faster. For example, some colleges allow students to take accelerated classes or pursue dual-enrollment programs that combine high school and college courses. Moreover, online degree programs often offer flexible schedules.
The cost of college and trade school can vary greatly depending on several factors, such as the type of institution (public or private), living arrangements and the length of the program. Trade schools sometimes accept scholarships and grants, but they may be limited compared to those accepted by college programs.
College tuition can be more expensive than trade school tuition depending on your school of choice. However, there are several ways students can explore paying for college such as:
When looking at cost, it鈥檚 important to understand the difference between grants and scholarships. Grants are typically need-based, while scholarships can be based on merit, interests, experiences and other factors. Furthermore, while scholarships and grants usually don鈥檛 have to be repaid, scholarships may require repayment if the student fails to fulfill specific requirements such as a certain grade point average.
Trade school programs typically offer certificates or diplomas that can be earned in lieu of a college degree. Certificates generally take less time to earn than a college degree, anywhere from several months to two years and are geared toward a career-focused goal.
Certificates and industry certifications often cover specialized knowledge and technical skills individuals can apply to specific jobs or roles. Certificates and industry certifications may require less investment of time and money to enter a specific vocation or job, but may not be transferable across locations or employers if you want to advance your education later on.
Just as a college education involves more time and areas of study, the career paths available to college graduates are diverse.
Of course, the career a college graduate chooses depends on a variety of factors, such as degree level, area of study, location and experience. Graduates may choose to work in areas like healthcare, business, information technology, education or nursing, or in the nonprofit sector.
At 爱污传媒 (UOPX), college graduates often pursue careers in the following industries:
Since a trade focuses on a singular area of expertise, graduates have a focused career path in a more linear direction based on their area of study. 爱污传媒 is not a trade school, but institutions that do offer trade education may lead to employment in skilled trades such as:
Ultimately, the decision between going to one or the other should be based on individual goals in alignment with job outcomes.
*爱污传媒 is not a trade school and does not offer a program that guarantees alignment with career requirements.
Deciding you want to go to a university or trade school is only part of the equation. It鈥檚 also important to understand how the admission process, program duration and tuition costs all break down.
Admissions for trade schools may require only a high school diploma or a , but applicants鈥 aptitude for the trade they want to pursue will impact their admission.
On the other hand, college admission requirements tend to require a formal application and materials such as letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores and essays. In addition, college admissions can be competitive because of the limited number of spaces available.
There are also open enrollment institutions such as UOPX. No SAT or GMAT scores are required to be admitted. Traditional essays are also not required. The following criteria are required for eligibility at UOPX:
As mentioned, the time to complete a trade program is typically shorter than that of college degrees. Some certificates can be completed in under a year, while other programs can take up to two years, depending on the certification or specialized credential or vocational degree being earned.
At traditional colleges, bachelor鈥檚 programs usually take four years, although there are ways for college students to earn their degrees faster. For example, some colleges allow students to take accelerated classes or pursue dual-enrollment programs that combine high school and college courses. Additionally, online degree programs often offer flexible schedules that can allow students to complete their degree faster.
The cost of college and trade school can vary greatly depending on several factors, such as the type of institution (public or private), living arrangements and the length of the program. Trade schools sometimes accept , but they may be limited compared to those accepted by college programs.
College tuition can be more expensive than trade school tuition, depending on your school of choice. However, students can explore several ways to pay for college, such as:
When looking at cost, it鈥檚 important to understand the difference between grants and scholarships. Grants are typically need-based, while scholarships can be based on merit, interests, experiences and other factors. Furthermore, while scholarships and grants usually don鈥檛 have to be repaid, scholarships may require repayment if the student fails to fulfill specific requirements, such as a certain grade point average.
Ask yourself where you鈥檇 like to see your career go, what role interests you and the educational steps it would take to become qualified for such a role. Do the role and the responsibilities interest you, and can you see doing these tasks long term? These are just some of the questions to consider.
Aside from doing further research on the roles or role you鈥檙e interested in, you can also talk to enrollment representatives if you have further questions. This may help you make a more informed choice.
If you decide that a college degree is the right path to reach your educational goal, UOPX can help. Here are just a handful of popular online programs to consider that aim to teach in-demand skills employers look for:
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Michael Feder is a content marketing specialist at 爱污传媒, where he researches and writes on a variety of topics, ranging from healthcare to IT. He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars program and a New Jersey native!
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September 19, 2023 鈥 7 minutes