Trade Schools and Career Colleges a Better Alternative to Community College

Filed under Career Advice, Income in Trades, Skilled Trades Shortage, The Future of Trades, Trade Schools

According to findings of a recent survey by the Career College Association, nearly 50 percent of those surveyed called career and technical colleges the best alternative to four-year universities, well ahead of community colleges. Only 17 percent of those surveyed favored community college.

Although community colleges (typically averaging 3200 a year in student loans required are usually much less expensive than career colleges. Both community college and career college numbers have risen in the last few years, with more than two million students currently enrolled in trade schools and career colleges. According to the survey, “Trade schools are also graduating students at a higher rate than community colleges: 64 percent of students enrolled in career colleges graduate within three years, compared to only 38 percent of community college students, who have a dropout rate of 45 percent.”

In addition, nearly 90 percent of students at for-profit institutions graduate with debt from student loans. Of these graduates, 10 percent finish school with student loan balances of $45,000 or more.

President of the CCA, Harris Miller, notes that trade schools have increased their edge by facilitating and also marketing workforce readiness over traditional academic higher education. Of 15 occupations projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow the fastest over the next decade, only six require a university degree.