College tuition at in-state public colleges usually is the best value for higher education. The cost for four years of public university credits is comparable to or lower than many one- and two-year technical school programs. Keep in mind that technical schools are for-profit businesses so they charge what the market will bear. Public universities, on the other hand, are subsidized by state governments to maintain tuition costs that are accessible to as many residents as possible.
College curricula require coursework outside of the core discipline in order to provide students with a broad exposure to higher education. For example, if you choose to study electrical engineering, you still will be required to take a few courses in humanities or literature to make sure you do not study only engineering. Technical schools usually teach only the skills required to perform a specific job.
Colleges and universities offer many diverse programs of study from the arts to business to science to law. There also are courses of study that combine different areas. For example, some colleges offer a degree in music business by combining courses from the music department with courses from the business department. In general, colleges offer a wider range of degrees and career paths than technical schools which focus on narrowly defined job roles. For example, a technical school might offer courses in computer repair and help you find a job as a computer technician. While this can be the start of a rewarding career, you must be sure you want to work in this role before committing the time and money to such a program. A college, on the other hand, might offer a degree in computer engineering with a more comprehensive curriculum. With such a degree, you could work as a computer designer, computer programmer or in other computer-related areas.