Trade School vs. College: Which Is Right for You?

Choosing between college and trade school may be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. The option you choose influences your career path, earning potential, lifestyle, and more. Both can lead to meaningful employment, but cost and flexibility, among other factors, differ significantly. That’s why you’ll want to weigh everything carefully and make a confident choice.

Attending college or a traditional trade school isn’t for everyone, and that’s where Per Scholas can help. We advance economic equity through rigorous, no-cost tuition tech training and connect skilled talent with leading businesses, helping learners enter the industry without a traditional degree. Below, you’ll discover trade school vs. college pros and cons and learn more about differences in costs, program length, salary, and career potential. You can then decide which path best fits your goals or choose a different route.

Trade School vs. College: What’s the Difference?

Trade schools typically take less time to complete than college degrees, which usually take two to four years. Trade schools also offer a more hands-on approach to learning while preparing you for a specific career, such as IT, construction, automotive technology, or health care administration.

Colleges, on the other hand, are generally more academic and classroom-based, which suits some learning styles. They can also offer more flexible career pathways. For example, you can major in one tech field, minor in another, and then decide which one you want to pursue. Earning a degree in itself can also open up new job opportunities.

The main differences between trade school and college are cost, time commitment, and career options. For example, trade schools are less expensive and require less time to complete, whereas colleges provide more flexibility.

What Is a Trade School?

You may have heard about this pathway when researching a career in tech. But what is a trade school, and why might it be a good choice for you?

Trade schools, also known as vocational or technical schools, prepare you for a specific career through hands-on training. They’re a popular way to get jobs, such as:

• Electrician
• HVAC technician
• Welder
• Medical assistant

They’re also becoming popular because they offer a path to in-demand technology roles such as software developer or cybersecurity analyst. But they’re not the only way to get a job in the tech industry. Per Scholas, for example, offers skills-based training as an alternative to traditional colleges and trade schools to help you enter this competitive field.

Trade schools generally have shorter timelines than colleges, sometimes taking as little as a few months to complete. Credentials you can earn at this type of institution include certificates, diplomas, and apprenticeships.

What Is College?

College is an educational institution after high school that lets you earn an associate or bachelor’s degree, usually within a two- to four-year timeframe.  

Compared to trade schools, colleges often have a broader academic curriculum and more stringent enrollment requirements, such as a particular SAT score. They can also offer opportunities for networking, internships, and more advanced education, such as a PhD.

If you want career flexibility or need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to work in a particular field, college may be the right option for you. If you want to complete school quickly and develop the required skills for a specific job, consider a trade school instead.

Trade School vs. College Pros and Cons

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of both pathways:

Pros and Cons of Trade School

Pros of Trade School

• Equips you to get a job faster (you can complete a program in as little as a few months)
• Costs less compared to most degrees
• Provides hands-on training
• Meets the demand for many skilled trades
• Offers skills for specific careers

Cons of Trade School

• Not as much career flexibility as a college degree
• Fewer opportunities for general education or soft skill development
• Credits you earn in a trade school may not transfer to a college program
• Some roles may have physical demands or salary ceilings

Pros and Cons of College

Pros of College

• Provides a broader education
• Offers more career flexibility
• Has potential for higher long-term earnings
• Gives you access to job roles that require a degree
• Creates opportunities for networking and internships

Cons of College

• Higher costs
• Longer time commitment
• Potential debt
• Delayed entry into the workforce (you may not have full-time earnings for up to four years or even more)
• Some degrees may not lead directly to a job without additional experience/training

Comparing the pros and cons of trade school vs. college can help you determine which option best matches your career plans and budget.

Trade School vs. College Cost

One of the primary differences between trade schools and college is the financial investment. Generally, trade schools are less expensive because their programs are shorter and more focused on a particular career. Colleges require a more substantial investment. In fact, the average cost for someone living on campus at a four-year college in 2022-2023 was between $27,100 and $58,600, depending on the type of institution. (See National Center for Education Statistics data for college costs.)

The price you’ll pay for a trade school or college depends on the following:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Accommodation (whether you need to live on campus or not)
• Books, supplies, and equipment needed to complete your program

When comparing trade school vs. college costs, be sure to consider any debt you may incur and the time you’ll spend out of the workforce.

Trade School vs. College Salary and Career Outcomes

College alumni may have higher average long-term earnings, especially in traditional careers such as law, finance, and healthcare. In fact, those with bachelor’s degrees have median weekly earnings of $1,543, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, their trade school counterparts could earn comparable wages in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity and computer science.

Ultimately, trade school vs. college salaries depend on the specific role, experience level, and other factors. For example, the salary for a registered nurse, a job that typically requires an associate or a bachelor’s degree, is $88,647 per year, according to Indeed. The average salary for an elevator technician, who typically requires an apprenticeship at a trade school, is $74,417 per year, not that far behind. The elevator technician may also have less debt than the registered nurse.

Job Readiness, Flexibility, and Long-Term Growth

Another difference is how trade schools and colleges prepare learners for the workforce.

Usually, a trade school lets you acquire job-specific skills in a comparatively short timeframe, which helps you enter the workforce quickly. It may also provide a clear path to a particular job, such as an IT specialist or cybersecurity technician.

A college lets you build a broader range of knowledge and learn more transferable skills, which is beneficial if you want to change career paths in the future. It’s also often the only way to enter certain job roles, such as an attorney or surgeon.

There’s a definite tradeoff between job readiness and long-term career flexibility, so this is something you’ll want to consider before making a choice.

Is Trade School Better Than College?

No career route is inherently “better.” The right option for you depends on your goals, preferred learning style, financial situation, interests, and other details.

Think about what your future career might look like when considering a trade school or college.

Trade school may be the right fit if:

• You want a quick way to enter the workforce and start earning money
• You have a specific skills-based career in mind, such as plumbing or IT
• You want to spend less time in school

College may be the right fit if:

• You want a position that requires a degree
• You prefer academic study more than hands-on learning
• You value the flexibility of changing careers in the future
• You want to continue with more advanced education later, such as a PhD or JD

So, is trade school better than college? Not at all. Success depends on what you do with your education, not the place where you get it.  

A Third Path: No-Cost Tuition Career-Focused IT Training

Trade school and college are certainly not the only paths to a career you’ll love. Numerous other options exist for obtaining the skills employers are actively seeking right now.

If you’re interested in a tech career, spending four years at college may not be the best route to take, even if all your friends are getting degrees. A traditional trade school may also be a bad fit. One alternative is to attend a no-cost training program that prepares you for high-demand fields such as cloud computing, software engineering, and data analytics.

Per Scholas can help. We offer these programs across the U.S. and serve learners who want practical, hands-on training without the expense of a conventional degree.

Explore our training programs.

Related reading: Starting an IT career

How to Choose the Right Path for Your Future

Now that you’ve learned about trade school vs. college pros and cons, it’s time to make a decision. Before you do, evaluate both options carefully and ask yourself the following:

• Do you know exactly what career you want?
• How much time do you want to dedicate to school?
• How much debt are you willing to take on?
• Do you prefer hands-on training or learning in a classroom?
• Does your dream job require a degree or something else, such as a license or certificate?
• Do you want the flexibility of changing careers at some point in the future?

Your answers depend on what you want to achieve in your life and where you see yourself in the future. You should also consider your financial situation, learning style, and other important factors when making your final decision.

Build a Career Without Taking the Traditional Route

Trade school and college can lead to a high-paying, meaningful career. However, they’re not the only options, so don’t feel pressured to go down either path.

If you enjoy tech, consider no-cost tuition and career-focused, accessible training through Per Scholas, including our cybersecurity programs. Over 30 years, we’ve trained thousands of individuals across the U.S. We’ve helped them access tech careers and build career pathways toward economic equity.

Take the next step toward an in-demand career that matches your skills and goals.

Explore Per Scholas’ training programs today or apply for no-cost skills training.