Many teenagers and high school seniors look at college with dread and don’t feel like they’re ready. In fact, many young people just won’t do well in a college environment and may end up spending a lot of money on something that isn’t right for them. This situation may be financially devastating.
As a result, it is crucial to understand why trade schools are better than college when it comes to saving money and what you can expect from these facilities. If you find that these advantages appeal to you, a trade school might be the best possible option for your training and educational needs.
Trade Schools Appeal to Certain People More
When it comes to understanding why trade schools are better than college for some people, it is essential to know what kind of people thrive in a trade school environment versus college. Some individuals will love college and find it to be an exciting experience. Others will become incredibly bored and want to be finished ASAP. The kinds of people who do well at trade schools include:
- Those Who Want a Quick Career – If you just want to get your career started and don’t want to spend years doing it, trade schools are a great option. In addition, many cooling tower companies don’t require specialized college-bound degrees, so if you want a job at such a facility, trade schools should work well.
- People With Hands-On Interests – College requires people to spend hours reading books, working on projects, and writing many papers. If you’d much rather work with your hands and “get something done,” such as learning slab leak repair skills, trade school is the right choice for you.
- Anyone Who Wants to Save Money – Do you have a limited source of educational funding that you need to capitalize on as much as possible? For example, you might want to choose a trade school instead of a college. Their inherently lower cost should appeal to you and others like you.
If you find that you fall within any of these categories, you might understand why trade schools are better than college for your needs. However, make sure that you carefully examine all of your options and your monetary investment before you start any of these schools. Doing so should help to make it easier for you to choose the best training facility and educational option for your needs as a person.
Trade Schools Cost Less
When examining why trade schools are better than college for certain professions, it is important to remember that trade schools simply cost less money. There are many reasons for this lower cost (which we’ll discuss later), but the numbers don’t lie. So let’s look at two- and four-year colleges and how their financial investments compare to trade schools. The results may surprise you:
- Four-Year College Average – Studies find that a four-year college will cost you at least $9,410 every year. Add that together, and that’s nearly $38,000 to learn how to join a team of roofing contractors or to get a piece of paper saying that you’re capable of being a roofing contractor.
- Two-Year College Average – Those who cannot afford four-year colleges may find two-year a good compromise. They cost around $3,440 per year or approximately $6,880 total. However, they may have limited trade options, such as classes for drain cleaning services, which may be hard for some to understand.
- Trade School Average – Trade school costs typically average, on the low end, to be about $5,000 total. That isn’t per year: that is total. While some trades may cost you up to $15,000, that is rare and always less than a four-year college. This situation is the only time when two-year colleges may be cheaper.
We admit that two-year colleges may cost less than trade schools in a few scenarios. But think of the usefulness of a two-year degree. Most of these colleges are known as preparatory schools, in that they prepare you for a four-year university. Often, the classes you transfer to that school cut back on how long you stay at the school and minimize how much you pay.
By themselves, a two-year degree is worth less than a trade school license. So, if you wanted to start an HVAC service career with a two-year college, you might find that you need to go to a four-year university anyway to extend your career! And in some cases, many of your classes may not transfer, meaning that you may end up having to retake some when you get to the college.
Trade Schools Are Faster
Another reason why trade schools are better than college is that they are much faster to finish. Two-year and four-year colleges let you know exactly how long you’ll be at them. And while some people like these extended educational periods because it allows them to build character and learn more about their trade, others may not. By comparison, trade schools last a much shorter period.
Just how long will you go to a trade school for careers like air conditioning repair? That all depends on the job you choose and the school that you attend. Some jobs will require far more intensive hands-on training than others. And some may require detailed computer training and other types of programs that help make diagnosis and treatment processes easier for many of these professions.
For example, people learning about heavy duty towing may finish their training in as little as three months! How is that possible? The training and licensing for these programs may be set up for quick turnover with maximum training efficiency. As a result, many high-paying careers and professions end up taking no more than six months to finish. As a result, you save money because your life won’t be paused for nearly as long.
That said, even at their longest, trade schools will take you no more than 18 months to finish a program. As a result, you will be fully trained and capable of handling your job in a little over a year. Compare that to a two-year college or even a four-year university, where you’ll spend so much of your life spending a lot of money while making almost none as you work part-time, low-paying jobs.
Trade Schools Have Fewer Expenses
One reason why trade schools are better than college for saving money is that they have far fewer expenses than traditional colleges. Simply put, there isn’t much you pay for beyond your training materials and your time in the classroom. That’s a massive benefit for people who just want to get their training over and don’t need many bells and whistles. Here’s a breakdown of these costs:
- Housing Costs – People who are attending two- or four-year universities often have to find specialized housing where they can live during their education. This housing can cost you as much as $1,000 to $2,000 per month, which can quickly add up if you’re trying to save money.
- Miscellaneous Expenses – When you go to a two- or four-year university, you’ll pay for things that you may not care about getting. For example, there are entertainment fees and money for sporting events that you may never attend. You don’t have to worry about such extra costs at your trade school.
- Books – Here is one of the few costs that trade schools have in common with colleges and universities. When training for masonry services or any other trade, you’ll have to pay for your books. Thankfully, you can also use these books as a reference in a way you’re not likely to with other educational materials.
So if you want to become a metal roofing professional without spending a lot of extraneous expenses on the process, you can’t do much better than trade schools. Rather than seeing your money disappear due to miscellaneous costs, you will see real results by working with professional educators who fully understand your needs and desire for a great job.
Trade Schools Start Your Career More Effectively
Do you know people who finished two- or four-year colleges and found themselves living with their parents, working dead-end jobs until their best option came up? Unfortunately, this tragic fate is familiar to many people around the nation. And it’s another reason why trade schools are better than college for many people. You won’t end up having to wait for a great job: it’ll likely be there waiting for you.
Just why are trade schools better in this situation? Simply put, trade schools prepare you for jobs that are usually available immediately. Just ask anybody who has gone through this type of education, and you’ll find that they practically had people lining up to give them a job. But, unfortunately, there’s such as high demand for this type of work and much fewer people willing to do it.
As a result, if you train to become an asphalt sealcoating professional or another type of expert, you’re much more likely to get a job right out of school than someone who finishes a two- or four-year degree. While their potential for earning is slightly higher than yours (depending on their career), you will be making more money right out of the training facility than they will: that’s practically guaranteed.
For instance, some people out of a two- or four-year university may find themselves working an unpaid internship for years, requiring them to either stay with their parents or operate a second job just to make ends meet. You won’t have to worry about that with a trade school job. Any entry-level job after trade school will make more than any internship, and your chances for higher earnings are enormous.
Trade Schools Prepare You for Financially Secure Jobs
The last reason why trade schools are better than college is that they prepare you for financially secure and enriching jobs. So while you might not make as much as some people who go through four-year colleges, you’ll still make a competitive salary, depending on your career:
- Truck Drivers – One of the fastest careers to train for in trade school, truck driving is also a potentially lucrative field. Many truckers make a median of around $44,000 per year. However, the potential for higher earnings is there if you’re willing to put in the hours and focus on higher-end transportation.
- Welders – Welders can often finish a one-year program before transitioning to a full-time career. And the job growth in this field is fantastic, with a heavy demand for great welders. Expect to make a median of $40,000 in this field, with a potential to make much more – sometimes, as high as $100,000.
- Electricians – The demand for this field is high, particularly in industrial and commercial settings. Expect growth of at least 10% in this field over the next 10 years. And you can anticipate a median of nearly $56,000 per year, with a potential for much higher if you start a business.
- Repair Technicians – Depending on the field you join, you could make a median of $48,000 per year as a repair tech. HVAC typically provides many job opportunities and pays very well. However, you can make even more if you get into more specialized and detailed repair processes.
And the potential for growth in these fields is often dependent on your willingness to work hard. For example, the most delicate repair technicians often open shops to make even more money. And you might work up to management jobs that help you make more money and work less physically challenging work.
As you can see, there are many reasons why trade schools are better than college for the right individual. Do you think that you fit within these categories? If so, you might want to consider this training option for your needs seriously. You might be surprised at just how beneficial this option might be for you and how it could transform your life for the better with relative ease.
