Trade schools offer a curriculum that is tailored toward enhancing a specific skill set without all of the fluff. Unlike a traditional college, many trade schools will not require students to take classes that aren't necessary to acquire skills in a particular field. Trade schools often emulate a real world working environment. Students will learn with the same equipment that is used in the workplace. Also, many students at a trade school will finish their program sooner than those at a traditional college.
Students at a traditional college have an opportunity to explore different fields and interests. Most majors leave room for students to take classes outside of the major. Student's also are given more time to grow. In four years, a student could have joined a multitude of extracurricular activities, held several different jobs and internships and switched majors two or three times. Trade school students don't have that same flexibility. Those who earn a bachelor's degree will earn 42 to 53 percent more over a lifetime, than those with some college or an Associates degree, according to College Board.
Trade school is often a cheaper option. According to GeorColl, the completion of a degree at a four-year college will cost about $35,000 versus a technical degree or certification which can cost around $5,000 or less (as of 2011). To help with tuition, many students attending a trade school can qualify for federal financial aid and private scholarships just like those at a four-year college.
Many trade schools do offer associates and bachelor's degrees along with certifications. Some fields don't require a degree, such as medical assisting and attending a trade school is a common way to enter the field. Students graduating from trade school aren't automatically in lower paying jobs. Career fields like nursing, computer networking, automotive and airplane mechanics and dental hygiene can all pay well even if your training came from a vocational school.