For those who have just graduated high school, looking for a change in career, or are seeking to further their current career, you typically have two options: attend a traditional college or a technical school.
Most people over the years have opted for a traditional college experience. However, choosing to attend a technical school can grant benefits that can make this path far more enticing than a traditional college.
6 Benefits of Enrolling in a Technical School
More Cost Effective Education
One of the biggest reasons to attend a technical school is that they are more cost effective than pursuing a four-year college degree. Technical school programs are less expensive than the average bachelor degree, which can cost $20,000 or more a semester. Seeing as technical school programs typically take far less time than four years to complete, this means you’ll be saving a lot on tuition.
In addition, technical school programs often include all fees and textbook costs in their tuition, meaning you’ll be saving even more.
Smaller Class Sizes and Hands-On Experience
Technical schools often offer smaller class sizes than traditional colleges and universities, meaning you’ll spend less time in a lecture hall. Smaller class sizes also have other benefits:
- Get to know your classmates
- Have more opportunities for one-on-one teacher interaction
- Have hands-on training
Smaller class sizes can prove to be especially useful for certain professions such as electrical technicians, where you need to learn how to handle technology safely.
Flexible Class Schedules
Technical and vocational schools offer greater flexibility in class scheduling for their students. In addition to offering daytime classes, many technical school programs also offer nighttime and weekend classes which can be helpful if you are having to work while going to school.
In addition, technical schools often offer courses year-round, which means you won’t have to wait until the new academic year starts to begin your journey to your new career.
Keep in mind that if you opt for weekend classes, it may affect the time it takes to complete your program. However, you should be able to complete most programs in less than two years.
Career-Focused Curriculum
In traditional college programs, students are required to complete a certain number of general education courses, meaning that they’ll need to study subjects such as English, math, physical education, and history, which may or may not be relevant to the career you wish to pursue.
When you enroll in a technical school, while you may have to take courses in mathematics or other general education topics, the curriculum in the courses is relevant to your career path.
As an added bonus, technical school classrooms often have labs incorporated into them, which often mimic workplace settings, allowing you to gain valuable experience before you even reach the workforce.
Prepare for Lucrative Careers in High Demand
More and more people are opting to enroll in technical schools precisely because their programs are designed to help you gain a job in rapidly growing fields. A great example is allied healthcare occupations, such as massage therapist and medical assistants, both of which are growing much faster than average national rates for job growth.
Technical schools often hold seminars and job fairs that allow students to make real connections with employers in the workforce. This can result in internships or potential job offers for when you finish your program.
If your goal is to get a job in one of these rapidly growing fields, attending a technical school may be an option for you to consider!
Easier Admission Requirements
As opposed to colleges which can often have high requirements for admittance, technical schools often simply require students to have earned their high school diploma or their GED.
That being said, certain programs, such as those related to healthcare, can be more selective and may have stricter requirements for prospective students.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Different Path
While traditional schools certainly have their benefits, they may not be the best fit for you. If you are wanting to quickly enter your career or advance your current one, attending a technical school may be your best choice as you can graduate sooner and save money while doing so.
