Trade School vs University

When it comes to furthering your education, you have a choice to make. Traditional pressures and ideals generally point to a four-year degree at a college or university. But the choice should be based on what is best for you. Which career suits you the most and will bring you the greatest satisfaction in life? Quite often the answer will lead to a trade school. While university educations provide a well rounded knowledge base, a trade school teaches you what you need to succeed in a trade.
 

Why choose trade school over university?

Why choose trade school over university? From art and design to criminal justice to health care to real estate and technology, a trade school is formatted to teach you exactly what you need to know for your chosen field. A trade school provides apprentice education and the exact instruction you need.

Most trade schools provide hands on practice and skill presentation in real world settings. A trade school can offer a degree in your field of study. For example, if you decide to work in the health field you can earn a nursing degree from your trade school. Many jobs require technical or specialized skills and require certification. These are obtained with the completion of your trade school education. This allows for higher paying jobs in the field you want to make your career.
 

Total Class Time

Total class time is usually less than two years. You finish your education prepared to go to work in your field. Since a trade school is focused on teaching only what is required to learn and succeed in the trade, the education time is much shorter. So unless you are learning set design for example, Shakespeare or other literary tomes will not be included in the curriculum. The same can be said for science. Unless forensics or another science type trade is for you, you will not need to master chemistry to get your degree.

In the last two decades the strictly vocational focus of trade schools has changed to offer a more rounded education than a straight skill set. More stringent regulations have also eliminated the false promises of skills and jobs that used to be used to lure students into an expensive program and in the end did not deliver.

This is another benefit of a trade school. Not only is the time required for your education shortened by half or more, the cost is greatly reduced as well. The tuition for trade schools is sometimes upwards of $5,000 less than a university education. And funding in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans are available for trade school too.

Find your passion. And if it is the construction industry, paralegal, court reporter, legal assistant, auto or airplane mechanic, culinary, dental or medical assistant, home inspector, land surveyor or any other trade -- chose a trade school. In the end an education is only beneficial if it provides you the tools you need to succeed. If your goals involve a trade provide yourself that education.