Although applying to and attending college may seem like the natural choice for many high school students, trade school is an underlooked yet seemingly logical choice due to the cost, efficiency and experiential learning it provides students. Trade schools offer students the opportunity to gain real world experiences at a very young age and at a fraction of the cost of a college education, proving to be a fruitful path.
While college degrees continue to become more accessible due to financial aid and scholarships, pursuing a four-year degree at a college or university can lead to crippling, lifelong debt for many students.
On the contrary, trade school is a much more affordable alternative, reducing debt and leading students to financial liberty at a much younger age. The average annual cost at a four-year institution is $28,100, totaling $112,400 after four years of studies, while the average cost per year at a trade school is about $11,300, according to the Best Colleges website.
This is a staggering and evident difference. While attending college is often deemed as setting students up for success, the dramatic cost can have lasting effects on students’ lives, something trade school can greatly alleviate.
In addition to offering students a valuable education at a reduced price, trade schools allow students to enter the workforce at an accelerated rate. While the length of schooling varies depending on the area of study, according to Best Colleges, a majority of programs last a maximum of two years. This enables young adults to begin working and making a living much sooner than their peers who opt to pursue a bachelor’s degree, setting them up for a successful future.
While this two-year education might not seem to compare to a traditional four-year degree due to its shorter duration, trade schools provide students a unique, enriching environment in which they practice applicable skills that are critical to their future careers.
These skills can help them reach certifications earlier than those attending a traditional school. Having these credentials expedites their experience in the workforce.
Another commonly discussed drawback of trade school is the lower earnings of trade school-emphasized careers. The average salary of a trade school graduate is $38,005, compared to $51,341 for a college graduate. Of course, this number depends greatly on the industry and experience level of the employee, but having a jump-started career, lack of debt and hands-on experience prior to working gives trade school students a unique edge that college graduates lack, balancing out this wage gap.
While some might stray away from trade school and choose to attend university instead, trade schools offer a variety of programs providing students with hands-on learning experiences in a much more time and cost-effective manner, setting up students for success and securing jobs that form the backbone of our society.
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