Trade schools vs. universities, which is better? To answer your question, we need to know the basic definition of the two. Then we will move forward to trade schools vs. universities in the estimation saga.
A trade school, also called a technician training school, is an institution that students look up to after completing high school or achieving an equivalent educational qualification. These technician training schools imbibe in students the technical skills of utmost importance for succeeding in a specific occupation or trade.
On the other hand, a university is a group of college students opts for after completing secondary school. The college can provide students with a bachelor’s degree or an advanced or postgraduate degree. The college could either provide A bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree or could provide both.
A trade school specializes in providing its students with strictly career-oriented programs. Let’s have a look at the programs they provide:
TRADE SCHOOL:
| PROGRAM | QUALIFICATION REQUIRED | AVERAGE INCOME/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Education: High school diploma or equivalent Apprenticeship: 3-4 years of apprenticeship Training: certification course from a certified technician training school. |
$49,160 |
| Welding | Education: A high school diploma Training: a certificate course from a certified welding school |
$38,013 |
| Sterile processing technician | Education: A high school diploma Training: a certificate course from a certified trade school and attaining sterile processing certification |
$65,500 |
| Plumbing | Education: High school diploma or equivalent Training: Certification course in plumbing and pipe fitting from a certified plumbing school. |
$55,160 |
| Industrial Electrician | Education: High school diploma or equivalent Training: Training from a trade school providing certification courses in electrician training. |
$59,190 |
| Auto mechanics | Education: A high school diploma Training: a certificate course from a certified trade school providing auto technician training. |
$57,000 |
| Diesel Mechanic | Education: High school diploma or equivalent Training: A degree is not required for becoming a diesel mechanic. |
$50,360 |
UNIVERSITIES:
| COURSE | QUALIFICATIONS | JOB OPPORTUNITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor Of Arts | The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is awarded to students in the areas of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Linguistics, Cultural Sciences |
|
| Bachelor of Science | The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree is awarded to students in Natural Sciences, Business & Management, Engineering Sciences, Mathematics, and Informatics. |
|
After getting certified training from a trade school, one can become anything. Like you can become a successful welder, plumber, automotive technician, construction worker, sterile technician, and whatnot. After inculcating required skills from their training courses, there is a bundle of opportunities.
The monetary benefits are also impressive. Have a look:
The average salary of a construction laborer is $16.07 per hour in the United States, totaling up to $385.68 per day. A plumber can earn $24.86/hour in the United States. They also get benefits of $6,750 if they work overtime. A beginner welder can earn up to $15per hour and experience. It can increase up to $35.45 per hour, and an automotive technician can earn $20.56per hour.
Trade School VS University: Job Security
A crucial benefit of joining a technician training school is that many jobs and internships that you’ll receive after completing the certification course cannot be outsourced.
College degrees are often taken to be the tickets for every job and achieving job security. As a result, a well-earned degree often goes unnoticed.
You’ll always need to depend on your skills and experience to retain your job. That’s the only way out. Complete dependence on your degrees doesn’t help anyway.
Trade School VS University: Cost
The cost of a trade school depends on the school and program length. The Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) reports that for-profit trade schools cost nearly $20,000 per year. On the other hand, a four-year graduate degree can cost under $10,000 or over $30,000 per year. Public universities charge around $9,000 per year in tuition and other fees from the students.
Trade School VS University: Time Taken
Your undergraduate degree is completed in four years of study. If you go for a post-graduation program, it will take even more years to complete.
On the other hand, trade school programs can be completed in about half as much time to complete. They can be as short as six or eight months but can go for a maximum of 2 years.
There are numerous technician training schools and Universities present all over the United States. They provide the students with a diverse range of courses and programs. This allows the students to excel in their future goals and desires. Therefore, depending upon your future desires and these aspects of trade schools vs. universities, you can make an informed choice.
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