Trade Schools Vs. Traditional College: What You Should Know
Robert Farrington
We all know that a college education is usually worth the financial cost, but what about attending trade school instead? Unfortunately, many adults with influence over high schoolers never take the time to ask this important question.
I'm not only talking about school guidance counselors and other educators, but I'm also talking about parents themselves. For far too many parents with kids in their junior or senior years of school, the stigma surrounding having a child skip four-year college would just be too much to bear.
But, it's time to change the narrative, and for more reasons than one. Not only does trade school help students land a job faster, it also costs significantly less than traditional college. Plus, jobs in the trades are booming in general, whereas many other industries are oversaturated with new graduates looking for work.
Have you tried to hire a contractor lately? How about an electrician? If you have, you probably already know these jobs are in high demand.
These are just some of the reasons to consider trade school, but there are others. And if you have your child's best interest in mind, you will at least hear me out.
How Much Does Trade School Cost?
The initial cost of attending trade school is one of the biggest benefits this type of education has to offer. Where the average cost of attending a public, four year school worked out to $10,740 for in-state students during the 2021-22 school year per CollegeBoard figures, you can attend trade school for as little as $5,000 per year. Not only that, but you can often learn a trade and enter a related profession in 18 months to 24 months vs. the four years or longer it takes to earn a bachelor's degree.
As an example, you could attend a public two-year in-district community college for an average of $3,800 per year, finish a vocational degree within two years, then go on to work as a dental hygienist or even a registered nurse in states that only require an associate degree. Conversely, you could attend trade school to learn a skill like carpentry, or to become an electrician, a welder or a boilermaker.
With many trades, you can also take part in a paid apprenticeship that lets you earn money while you learn on the job. According to statistics from the U.S. government, 92% of apprentices who complete their program retain employment and go on to earn an average annual salary of $72,000.
Trade School Education Pays Off (Literally)
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Trade Schools Vs. Traditional College: What You Should Know
Robert Farrington
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I write about personal finance, college and student loan debt.
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Feb 21, 2022,11:30am EST
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We all know that a college education is usually worth the financial cost, but what about attending trade school instead? Unfortunately, many adults with influence over high schoolers never take the time to ask this important question.
I'm not only talking about school guidance counselors and other educators, but I'm also talking about parents themselves. For far too many parents with kids in their junior or senior years of school, the stigma surrounding having a child skip four-year college would just be too much to bear.
But, it's time to change the narrative, and for more reasons than one. Not only does trade school help students land a job faster, it also costs significantly less than traditional college. Plus, jobs in the trades are booming in general, whereas many other industries are oversaturated with new graduates looking for work.
Have you tried to hire a contractor lately? How about an electrician? If you have, you probably already know these jobs are in high demand.
These are just some of the reasons to consider trade school, but there are others. And if you have your child's best interest in mind, you will at least hear me out.
young apprentice in vocational training working on a turning machine in the industry
young apprentice in vocational training working on[+]GETTY
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How Much Does Trade School Cost?
The initial cost of attending trade school is one of the biggest benefits this type of education has to offer. Where the average cost of attending a public, four year school worked out to $10,740 for in-state students during the 2021-22 school year per CollegeBoard figures, you can attend trade school for as little as $5,000 per year. Not only that, but you can often learn a trade and enter a related profession in 18 months to 24 months vs. the four years or longer it takes to earn a bachelor's degree.
As an example, you could attend a public two-year in-district community college for an average of $3,800 per year, finish a vocational degree within two years, then go on to work as a dental hygienist or even a registered nurse in states that only require an associate degree. Conversely, you could attend trade school to learn a skill like carpentry, or to become an electrician, a welder or a boilermaker.
With many trades, you can also take part in a paid apprenticeship that lets you earn money while you learn on the job. According to statistics from the U.S. government, 92% of apprentices who complete their program retain employment and go on to earn an average annual salary of $72,000.
Trade School Education Pays Off (Literally)
While trade school costs less in general, and while trades typically require less than four years of higher education, jobs in various trades also pay more, too. Yes, you read that right. Sending your kid to trade school can result in benefits like lower student debt or no student debt plus higher earnings later on.
A quick look at May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates from BLS.gov makes this readily apparent. While there are many different trades and educational paths to consider, here are some of the highest paying trades students could enter plus how many years of higher education they require.
While these trade school and community college jobs definitely pay well, also keep in mind that these salaries apply to employees. If a student is especially business-minded, all kinds of trades work well for all kinds of small business ideas.
For example, someone who learns the art of plumbing can easily go on to open their own plumbing business, and the same is true for carpenters, electricians, and other skilled tradespeople who are good with their hands. I also know that, all over the country right now, we're facing a dramatic shortage of skilled workers who can remodel kitchens or bathrooms, install flooring, or take on any number of small remodeling jobs.
The bottom line: The work is there for students who pursue the trades, and the jobs pay handsomely for the most part. If your trade school student is prepared to break out on their own and start their own company, that's even better.
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