Are you a graduate shopping for the perfect college? Perhaps, you’re looking for the school with the highest rankings, biggest dorms, most fun activities, best clubs, greatest professors and tastiest food to choose from on campus? We get it. Education is important in today’s world and it’s a big choice. But what if we told you that you could go to a trade school, save thousands upon thousands of dollars, graduate in less time, and graduate with a skill that will make you employable almost immediately? If this is something that interests you, then read on!

According to trends.collegeboard.com, the average cost of obtaining a 4-year bachelor’s degree in-state costs about $25,290 per year and out-of-state can cost you $40,940 and up per year. If you’re thinking about going to a private college, a 4-year degree can be a whopping $50,900 per year. And if you’re someone who got okay grades in school and didn’t get offered a money-saving scholarship, then attending a traditional college can put you in the hole (debt) fairly quickly. 

However, if you learn by doing and you enjoy working with your hands, then a trade school may be an exciting alternative for you. So, what is a trade school? Blog.prepscholar.com provides a great explanation as to what a trade school is and which jobs you can get with a degree from it: 

“A trade school, sometimes referred to as a vocational school, technical school, or vocational college, is a post-secondary institution that’s designed to give students the technical skills to prepare them for a specific occupation.” Examples of trade schools include UEI, American Career College, and ITT Technical Institute. Trade schools can be public or private, but many are for-profit businesses. At a trade school, you can get a degree in fields such as information technology, nursing and health sciences, automotive technician training, and medical assisting. Program lengths vary, but typically, they range from anywhere from eight months to two years.

Here are some of the jobs you can do with a degree from a trade school:

• Electrician
• Dental hygienist
• Plumber
• Paralegal
• Nurse
• Graphic Designer
• Welder
• Computer technician
• Aircraft mechanic
• Cosmetologist
• Chef
• Marine mechanic
• Construction manager
• Massage therapist
• Pharmacy technician

Want to know the best part? The average trade school degree costs $33,000, which, compared to the usual 4-year college, can mean significant savings, and some of these jobs pay up to almost $50 an hour. Another thing to think about is the experience you’re building at a trade school. Not only will you be learning about it by hitting the books, but you’ll be developing your skill by doing hands-on training. This helps you get ahead when you graduate because you may already be equipped with the experience you need to get your foot in the door.

Let’s go back to what we said early about obtaining good grades. Remember failing that class in high school? (Not talking to any of you A+++ overachievers out there). Failing a class in college can cost you way more than a lecture from your parents or a rescheduling nightmare — it can cost you thousands of dollars as well. If you’re not careful, that $25,000+ degree can end up costing you much more than you budgeted for. 

Aside from the financials, there is yet another benefit to attending a trade school instead of a traditional college: Getting a job quick! Careerschoolsnow.org says you can get into the workforce in “as little as 6 weeks for nursing assistant, medical assistant, CDL driver, and HVAC technicians with a qualified, certified skill.” Need we say more?

Your education is important, but so is your savings account. If you don’t want to empty your emergency cash stash, a LendingPoint loan may be a great option. Ask us about our personal loan options.