With the rising costs of institutions and the increasing rates of debt among 25 to 34 year-olds, it is no wonder many young people are re-thinking their path to education. According to Usnews, the average cost of debt right out of college is $30,000. Juxtapose this with the average cost of trade school being about $33,000 while the average cost of a university degree is around $100,000, maybe you are finding the trade school more alluring. But, how do you know if trade school is the better option for you?
Five things to consider before deciding between trade school or college
1.) Time investment
Attending a college or university will set you back roughly four years on average (unless you graduate early.) However, the average time of a trade school is roughly one to two years. This means that you can begin earning money earlier. If you took out a loan to attend a trade school, you can begin to pay it back early.
It should be noted also that trade school offers more focused learning. While attending a trade school, every class is dedicated to learning a specific skill within that trade.
Attending a four-year institution often means taking classes that do not pertain to your major of study.
2.) Payoff
A big reason people choose college over trade school is the salary expectations after learning is completed. On average the college graduate earns more than the trade school graduate. However, these numbers do not consider loans taken out by the average college-goer.
3.) Networking
Often times a trade school is directly connected to a job training program. Meaning once you graduate you may be able to jump in with the company the program is connected to.
A four-year institution is often used as a place for “soft networking.” Creating friends and relationships can lead to jobs and connections post graduation. Also, most four year institutions have a career counselor/ing program to help with the post graduation job search.
4.) Searching
Trade schools are great if you already know what you want to do. If the trade you decide does not require a higher learning degree, it may be in your best interest to bypass going to college. College is helpful for students who do not quite know what they want to do. On average, the first two years at a four year institution are often general education courses that cover a vast array of topics (some of which do not pertain to your declared major.) However, this can also be a negative as you could spend thousands of dollars and still not know what you want to do.
5.) Talk with your guidance counselor
Your guidance counselor should be able to guide you into what path is best for you given your career dreams. Be sure to be clear about your career goals, budget, and time you wish to be studying.
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