Students can begin researching colleges on one of the many searchable online databases of community colleges and vocational schools. For example, a student can search The US Department of Education's "College Navigator" by several criteria including zip code, levels of degrees or certificates awarded, programs/majors, institution type, tuition & fees, undergraduate student enrollment, housing, campus setting, percentage of applicants admitted, varsity athletic teams, extended or distance learning opportunities and religious affiliation. The database includes both state-owned and private schools, and only lists accredited schools.
Most job listings specify a degree or certification required to qualify for the position. Students can use the "College Navigator" to search for colleges whose programs match the job requirements for the student's preferred career. For example, an IT Site Coordinator position requires an Associate of Applied Science degree. Likewise, a Quality Engineer position requires certifications in Statistical Process Control, Compliance Engineering. Schools in North Carolina that offer such certifications include Guilford College, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Methodist University. Every state has many such institutions. Schools' websites provide catalogs that students should download and read carefully.
The most important criteria for evaluating a college are its graduation rate and the subsequent job success of its graduates. In other words, how successful is a particular college at enabling students to reach their goals? The "College Navigator" provides graduation rates for each of the colleges it has data on. For example, ITT Technical Institute in Mobile, Alabama, graduates 50 percent of its students while Bryan College in Topeka, Kansas graduates 62 percent. Information on graduates' success at finding jobs can be found through an interview with college personnel.
Many technical colleges offer both on-campus and online classes. Of course, some fields of study are better suited for online study while others are better taught on-campus. For example, while information technology programs are well-suited to online study, automotive technology usually requires hands-on work that must be accomplished in a campus shop setting. Students can search E-Learners.com for online schools, programs and courses including those that lead to certifications. For example, Penn Foster Career School offers an online certificate in computer assisted design software for students who want a career in architectural and industrial drafting.