Mar 23 2026
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When thinking about career paths that seem interesting… where does the brain go?
College? University? Maybe higher education gets ruled out completely.
It's no secret that picking a career path is one of the most stressful decisions anyone makes.
Friends are off to college. Parents want a degree. Everyone has advice.
But there's one question everyone seems to overlook...
Is college the only option?
These days, not necessarily. The college vs trade school debate has become more popular than ever — and for good reason. While pursuing a traditional four-year degree makes sense for many people, it simply doesn't make sense for everyone.
If the choice between college vs trade school is on the table, make sure to do the research first. Knowing the answer to is a college degree worth it can seem like an impossible task. When factoring in cost, time commitment, and actual outcomes — it can feel like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. But they're both valid options.
College has advantages. Trade school has advantages.
...And they both have serious downsides.
Let's dig into the facts, weigh out the options, and point things in the right direction.
ContentsThe mistake most people make when choosing between college and trade school is not realizing this isn't a black and white decision.
For some people, college is the obvious choice. For others, trade school is the only way to go. And for a lot of people, it depends on what they're studying in the first place.
Truth: there is no right answer here.
Deciding between college and trade school depends on personal goals, how much money is available (or can realistically be taken on in debt), and the type of work that needs to happen on a daily basis.
Here's the reality of the situation…
Recent years have turned this age-old decision on its head.
Trade schools across the country have seen a significant uptick in enrollment, with numbers rising nearly 20% since 2020. More students are questioning the value of college every year. Enrollment in both associate and bachelor's degree programs are now below what they were prior to the pandemic.
Students are waking up. They understand that education is an investment — and like any investment, doing the research beforehand matters.
College gives students exposure to a variety of topics before encouraging them to specialize in one area of study. Known as a 'major', students get at least two years of liberal arts education before deciding what they want to focus on. The goal? Graduates should have well-rounded, critical-thinking skills that allow them to excel in any career path they choose.
So why does this matter?
Certain careers simply aren't an option without a college degree. That's not going to change. To become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or pursue many careers in the finance field, a four-year degree is required at minimum. College is also the only pathway towards graduate level programs, research positions, and many corporate tracks.
But it doesn't come cheap.
The average student borrower is sitting on roughly $37,850 in loan debt that they'll spend the next 10-25 years paying off. That number grows higher every year. Student loan debt can impact when it's possible to buy a house, start a family, or save.
And even after grueling years of study? 40.3% of recent graduates were underemployed as of 2023. That means nearly 60% of college graduates were stuck in jobs that didn't require a degree they spent years training for and tens of thousands of dollars on.
That's pretty discouraging.
If college broadens horizons before allowing specialization, trade schools do the exact opposite.
Trade schools take general education into consideration and then teach how to do a specific job. Some trade programs can be completed in as little as nine months.
Students graduate with trade certificates they can use to find work in their chosen field. Plus, they do it with a fraction of the student debt a college graduate faces.
Want to know what's really turning people towards trade schools?
Everyone thinks about salary when considering trade school vs college. And while money isn't everything, it's a significant factor when education could saddle someone with debt for the rest of their life.
Trade careers are in high demand and they're growing faster than any other sector. Many trades also offer middle to six-figure salaries that rival and exceed college graduates. Here's the annual average across all trade careers:
Just because a trade certificate exists doesn't guarantee employment or a six-figure income. But when compared to the average college graduate career outcomes, trade school is looking pretty attractive.
Cost is a major reason why people consider trade school over college. But let's talk about actual numbers.
The average cost for a four-year college was as follows:
Yes, that's correct. Private colleges cost over $43,000 per year. Add on the cost of living, textbooks, food, and transportation. The average student heading into college nowadays should plan on needing around $75,000 to get through all four years.
Trade school cost? Well under $15,000 for most programs. Some are even cheaper than that.
Think about that for a second.
How does each path measure up when comparing return on investment? More will be earned as a software engineer with a computer science degree than as someone who can weld. But does an HVAC expert with ten years of experience under their belt make more than an English major struggling to find work in their field? Most likely.
Comparing apples to oranges won't get the right answer. Instead, compare the cost of education to expected career outcomes.
So how does anyone actually know which path is right for them?
Is college always better than trade school? Is trade school even an option?
Here are a few questions to ask when trying to decide:
These may seem like simple questions, but they can help decide between trade school vs college and really understand why one path is being chosen over the other. A decision this important should never be rushed or made based on someone else's expectations.
Neither path is wrong. But the right choice becomes clear when sticking to a decision years down the line — not asking "what if?"
Are you wondering if college is worth it?
Many offer degrees in areas like Graphic Design, Computer Science, Business Analytics, Hospitality Management, Accounting and much more. Visit the program pages to learn more or request more information to see if college is the right path.
College isn't for everyone. Trade school isn't for everyone. They're simply different paths that take you different places.
The goal is to pick a path that leads to where you want to go. Too many students go into college right away because that's what they've always been told to do. Others pick a trade school without doing any research.
Research the options. Know what the expected career outcomes are. Map out a direction and take education one step closer to reaching those goals.
Remember… higher education isn't the only option.
Tell me what you need and I'll get back to you right away.