Trade schools as a viable alternative to college

bobcat

bobcat

Well-known Member
Location
Northern Calif
I was looking at some of the statistics showing that 40 to 60 percent of college grads have trouble finding employment after getting their degrees.
However, trade schools cost about half as much, you get more specialized training, and find work quicker.
Not as much student debt, and you are in the work force considerably sooner.


Many who learn hands-on trades are in high demand, and they get paid well, and many even go on to own their own businesses.
I wonder if companies looking for qualified workers could have a program whereby, they would reimburse your trade school fees once you get your diploma and work for them for a year (Something like that).
 

bobcat48 said:
I was looking at some of the statistics showing that 40 to 60 percent of college grads have trouble finding employment after getting their degrees.
However, trade schools cost about half as much, you get more specialized training, and find work quicker.
Not as much student debt, and you are in the work force considerably sooner.


Many who learn hands-on trades are in high demand, and they get paid well, and many even go on to own their own businesses.
I wonder if companies looking for qualified workers could have a program whereby, they would reimburse your trade school fees once you get your diploma and work for them for a year (Something like that).
Click to expand...
The psychiatric nursing school I went to reimbursed my tuition in exchange for me doing my 1-yr internship at their facility, and so did the medical assistant school. I worked as a psych nurse for about 9 years, but was an MA for only about a year and a half, but that's because I moved. Plus I still got paid the starting wage that 1st year.

After moving, I went to school to become a heavy equipment operator and had that job for a couple years. The equipment company owned their own school at the time.

In total, I saved about $40K in tuition fees, equal to $112,743 today. (there's an online calculator for that!)

Last time I checked (about a year ago) there were over 300,000 trade-skills jobs available in the US and all of those skills are taught at trade schools and through worker's unions, and some employers do indeed offer tuition pay-back programs to trained electricians, plumbers, welders, construction workers of various types, plus forestry workers and roads & transportation workers...guys and gals who build highway bridges and such.
 

bobcat48 said:
I was looking at some of the statistics showing that 40 to 60 percent of college grads have trouble finding employment after getting their degrees.
However, trade schools cost about half as much, you get more specialized training, and find work quicker.
Not as much student debt, and you are in the work force considerably sooner.


Many who learn hands-on trades are in high demand, and they get paid well, and many even go on to own their own businesses.
I wonder if companies looking for qualified workers could have a program whereby, they would reimburse your trade school fees once you get your diploma and work for them for a year (Something like that).
Click to expand...
I remember back in the 1980's while I was living in New York City, I read in one of the papers that college graduates who couldn't find a job, were working for the sanitation department. They were paying $11 an hour, which was big bucks back then.
 
Although many trade schools are male dominated type i am sure there are other items as well... The guy Mike Rowe who did show called dirty jobs runs a program that helps pay for trade schools and many careers that people may not have even considered.... many pay fairly well and you can do internships etc costing little to get certified or licensed in various things
one might look up Mike Rowe and see what all the program offers.
 
Jules said:
I’d appreciate any ideas for non-university careers for two of my granddaughters. They’re both tiny and not capable of
jobs that need physical strength. Neither are interested in the sciences, though it is the way to go if you’re inclined to that.
Click to expand...
I drew a blank so I did a Google search for ones that wouldn't be really physically demanding with lifting etc.:

Dental hygienist.
Cosmetology.
Hospitality management.
Pharmacy technician.
Massage therapy.

I don't know what you would take, but someone with good computer and office skills could work in all kinds of settings.
 
Jules said:
I’d appreciate any ideas for non-university careers for two of my granddaughters. They’re both tiny and not capable of
jobs that need physical strength. Neither are interested in the sciences, though it is the way to go if you’re inclined to that.
Click to expand...
A lot of it should depend on their interests. If they rather enjoy cooking, they could attend a chef school. If they like working with animals, then perhaps a vet's assistant. Another way to go is get a government job (Fed, state or county), even as a starter job (May not pay much at first, but you just work your way up (GS-1 to GS-14 or so), and branch out into whatever field that interests you. Good benefits, and retirement.
 
Our young have been Brainwashed into believing that a college degree is Necessary. However, many of these degrees hardly qualify the graduate to earn more than the minimum wage...and saddle them with years of student debt. In many cases, trade schools, and community colleges can do a better job of building a good foundation for a career.
A good recent example is the recent UPS contract with their drivers. They will soon be making about $50/hr, and with benefits they will see an annual salary approaching $150K/yr. Compare that to a "Sociology" degree that isn't worth much more than $50K/yr.
 
Don M. said:
Our young have been Brainwashed into believing that a college degree is Necessary. However, many of these degrees hardly qualify the graduate to earn more than the minimum wage...and saddle them with years of student debt. In many cases, trade schools, and community colleges can do a better job of building a good foundation for a career.
A good recent example is the recent UPS contract with their drivers. They will soon be making about $50/hr, and with benefits they will see an annual salary approaching $150K/yr. Compare that to a "Sociology" degree that isn't worth much more than $50K/yr.
Click to expand...
Yeah, my nephew went to a trade school, got his diploma, went to work for the county, eventually became the head of transportation, and will now be able to retire at full salary. Not a bad deal for a guy that really didn't want to go to college.
 
My grandson was on the Dean's and President's lists all through college. He was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and National Honor Society. He and his team made business presentations at some of the major companies in N.Y.C. He has yet to find a job worthy of his credentials! It seems that people who have trades can find good paying work more easily than college grads in some cases. And they don't have all of that student loan debt.
 
my oldest got an MBA and just now year and years down the road finally found a good paying job he has been furious that his younger brother went into property management and now is a commercial property broker and made 6 figures long before his mba brother....
 
Jeni said:
my oldest got an MBA and just now year and years down the road finally found a good paying job he has been furious that his younger brother went into property management and now is a commercial property broker and made 6 figures long before his mba brother....
Click to expand...
Yeah, that just makes no sense, but sometimes expectations and reality can be so different.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
My grandson was on the Dean's and President's lists all through college. He was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and National Honor Society. He and his team made business presentations at some of the major companies in N.Y.C. He has yet to find a job worthy of his credentials! It seems that people who have trades can find good paying work more easily than college grads in some cases. And they don't have all of that student loan debt.
Click to expand...
Pretty crazy, right? I sure hope he hangs in there and finds just the right fit.
Wishing him luck.
 
Jules said:
I’d appreciate any ideas for non-university careers for two of my granddaughters. They’re both tiny and not capable of
jobs that need physical strength. Neither are interested in the sciences, though it is the way to go if you’re inclined to that.
Click to expand...
Electrician
Computer engineering (as in design of auto and boat engines, drones, security systems, etc)
Mortician
Insurance processing
Medical Assistant
Phlebotomy and/or Lab Technician
Pharmacist

All those jobs pay well and the school tuition, which is reasonable, can be paid via a grant or through a company, if not a student loan.
 
Had I finished college, I'd have been an engineer rather than the draftsman I became with a trade school diploma and a bonus associate degree from the Junior College.

Thing is, while it turned out I didn't enjoy drafting nor would likely have enjoyed engineering, the education did help land a job as a machinist in which I was eventually promoted to supervisor.

As luck would have it, I didn't like that either though ... being stuck inside all day every workday.

So I did what I probably should have done to begin with and joined the military ... which isn't a bad job if you are routinely selected for advancement. Still not for everyone but was a career choice for me that I greatly enjoyed and am proud of. The retirement benefits aren't that bad either.
 
First "trade schools" are not where the dumber kids have to go to school, anymore. The old days of paying a few drunks to bang nails into boards is long gone. Plumbers have to know plastics, metallurgy, physics, and an array of techniques. Electricians, the same. If you're a longtime homeowner, you know right off which tradesman is a jerk, and which knows his stuff. Technology is making things increasingly complicated, and you can't do things just like your dad did, anymore.
BTW, I can get an appointment quicker for my 8+ year post college medical doctor, than a good plumber. And the doc costs less.
 
Community Colleges offer the same as trade schools. Courses are directly related to the occupation without the fluff "basket weaving" type courses thrown in, so 2 years is all that's required.
 
There are already shortages for workers in the trades and it's forecast to get worse. I don't know if it's the same everywhere but in at least one school district here senior year can be half the day at the HS and half at the local community college in a trade program.

Years ago that same high school had an in house auto mechanic program that was so well thought of that it was a months long wait to get a car on their schedule. Of course that was dropped when educators decided that everyone had to have at least 4 years of college.
 
Jules said:
I’d appreciate any ideas for non-university careers for two of my granddaughters. They’re both tiny and not capable of
jobs that need physical strength. Neither are interested in the sciences, though it is the way to go if you’re inclined to that.
Click to expand...
If they like to cut and style hair, being a beautician is a nice profession. One of my sisters did that and enjoyed it very much before she married.
 
bobcat48 said:
I was looking at some of the statistics showing that 40 to 60 percent of college grads have trouble finding employment after getting their degrees.
However, trade schools cost about half as much, you get more specialized training, and find work quicker.
Not as much student debt, and you are in the work force considerably sooner.


Many who learn hands-on trades are in high demand, and they get paid well, and many even go on to own their own businesses.
I wonder if companies looking for qualified workers could have a program whereby, they would reimburse your trade school fees once you get your diploma and work for them for a year (Something like that).
Click to expand...
One of my nephews has been doing this for several years now. He learned the mechanics trade and was hired by the same company that trained him. I'm sure if you look around you will find them.
 
Jeni said:
my oldest got an MBA and just now year and years down the road finally found a good paying job he has been furious that his younger brother went into property management and now is a commercial property broker and made 6 figures long before his mba brother....
Click to expand...
It all depends on what you want in life. Making lots of money is not everyone's goal (like me). Sometimes there are other intrinsic factors that are more important, like expressing compassion, creativity, and talent.
 

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