College. It’s part of the American Dream. Do well in school, attend a good college, get a job to support 2.5 children and to pay off a home in the suburbs. However, college to high schoolers today seems more daunting and unattainable than ever. With an increasingly competitive environment, rising university costs, decline of financial aid, and a job market that is less than promising, the process has become more stressful than hopeful. Is this piece of paper necessary? Is trade school an adequate alternative? What is the difference between a college and trade school? Time is one of the most valuable things a person can have and there is a large time difference between these two options. Some trades, like commercial trucking, can be fully learned within a six week period. While not all trades are this fast paced, fields like dental hygiene can be mastered within two years. High paying skills like welding take four years, including an apprenticeship. Meanwhile, to earn a Bachelor’s degree takes four years at least and many high profile jobs expect a Master’s as their minimum. That also doesn’t allow those receiving a traditional education to enter the workforce until the age of 22 at the earliest while their trade school counterpoints are free to begin working years prior. …show more content…
According to The Simple Dollar, he average trade school education costs $145-$303 a month, with the average student paying $33,000 for the entirety of their education. While a traditional college education costs $245-$303 a month with most students paying upwards of $127,000 before factoring in student loans. When talking salaries, the average trade school graduate’s median entry level salary is around $35,000 a year. Which, when compared to the college graduate’s median of $45,000 a year seems miniscule. However, most coming from a trade school enter the workforce earlier, making more money, and are free from student