Most students get their degrees at universities or traditional colleges, while others find trade schools more conducive or suitable.
Trade schools centered on career training for in-demand jobs, which are practical oriented for some careers. More so, trade schools are quick to complete and have lesser tuition fees.
When choosing between trade school and college, students should consider their career goals, strengths, and interests. To guide you with this process, below are some advantages and disadvantages of trade schools vs. colleges.
What is Trade School?
Trade schools focus on dedicated training in a specific, skilled vocation. They typically ignore general education and liberal arts classes. Because of this, trade schools are called vocational schools – an umbrella term that also cuts across technical and career schools. However, these terms are sometimes used interchangeably; there are a few differences.
The programs here are tailored to provide students with specific training on hard skills needed for a specific job. This way, students are equipped to enter the labor market faster and get the best jobs for trade school graduates.
What is College?
A college is an institution of higher learning where degrees are awarded that focus on undergraduate programs. Whether standalone school or as part of a collegiate or federal university, they offer academic learning experiences within a particular field of study.
College programs are mostly grounded on classroom instruction, but some hands-on learning opportunities and practicals may also be offered as immersions and internships.
Programs Offered
The pattern of college and trade school programs has one minute but crucial difference – the method of teaching approach.
Trade schools emphasize the vocational, while colleges focus on the academic. With this, the available courses and programs they offer vary. For instance, trade schools’ programs are centered on specific occupations. One will likely see manufacturing, construction, information sciences, cosmetology, or emergency services programs.
While colleges focus on courses that cover general fields of study. Because of this, it is not uncommon to see degree programs in broad topics, such as liberal arts, business, engineering, or education. These are then subdivided into several majors students can choose from in their junior year. For instance, if a student takes up a degree in engineering, they can choose to major in a more specific subfield, such as mechanical engineering.
Duration of Program
Trade school programs are often comprised of sixty (60) credits of coursework, completed within eight months to 2 years, depending on how much load you commit to per semester.
On the other hand, college degree programs are equivalent to approximately 120 to 128 semester credit hours, which can be completed within four years. But, some programs enable students to stagger the credit fulfillment in 7 to 10 years.
Having these in mind, the duration of college programs offers you more time to learn more about your choice of field of study. But, if you want to get a job and start earning early, trade schools are your best bet.
Cost of Education
It is a normal thing in the United States that higher education is expensive. However, between trade schools and colleges, the latter is more expensive than the former. According to research, there has been a continual rise in college tuition until the Covid19 pandemic started.
Research by the U.S. Department of Education shows that college tuition fees can cost between $1,000 and $60,000 annually (U.S. Department of Education, 2020), depending on the type of school chosen and whether you are an out-of-state or in-state student. Also, some colleges might need you to reside inside the campus, resulting in additional room and board fees and daily costs, like meals and supplies.
In the case of trade schools, students pay between $3,855 and $14,843 fees, which makes them affordable and relatively cheaper than colleges.
Admission Requirements
The processes of college admissions are rigorous. Every school has its admission standards, but there are a few similarities in their application requirements, which are:
- Application Essay
- AP Scores
- ACT or SAT Scores
- GED diploma or school transcript
- Letter of recommendation
Remember that for the requirements listed above, schools might have different standards of cumulative GPA, SAT, ACT, or AP scores. For instance, some colleges might give more regard to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. While others may pay more attention to how well you did in AP Classes relevant to the program, you applied to.
While trade school admissions are more accessible, applicants must be at least 16 or 18 years old to apply. Most times, the only requirement would be your high school diploma or GED equivalent and passing the admission test. However, some programs may need additional requirements.
Conclusively, from the points above, we believe you should narrow down your educational choices around your sophomore or junior year to make reasonable choices about whether to attend either trade schools or colleges. If you need more help, get the LYS Guidebook or join our weekly mentoring.
