Every year, nearly 3 million American students graduate from high school. More than half of them go directly to college. Unfortunately, one out of four of these students will drop out during their freshman year. In fact, a third of all individuals who enter college leave without a degree. This places young people in a difficult situation. If they have student loans, they have the debt burden of a college graduate, but without the earning power and job prospects. This hinders long-term financial stability.
For this and many other reasons, there is a growing movement about alternatives to the traditional high school-to-college pipeline. Now as ever, vocational schools, junior colleges, and certificate programs are viable and desirable options for post-high school education and training.
Vocational Schools vs. Liberal Arts Degrees
Vocational programs are generally shorter than degree programs, are skills and training-focused, and culminate in a certificate or license. For generations, vocational schools, trade schools, and other alternative pathways were viewed as fallback choices for students who didn’t go straight to college. However, as university degrees increasingly fail to provide students with better employability and higher salaries, vocational programs have become even more desirable.
Bachelor’s degrees include prerequisites, non-major-related courses that all students must take. In the past, college students studied philosophy, psychology, and Latin to improve their mental agility and become more well-rounded. This was important in the 1960s and 70s when less than 15 percent of the population had a college degree. Competition for higher-paid work was lower, and graduates could find work in nearly any sector, no matter their major.
In the 21st century, things have changed drastically. Today nearly 40 percent of the American population has a college degree. Further, the world of work has become more specialized and innovative. Not all employers provide on-the-job training, and many expect employees to enter the workplace with relevant technical skills.
This new labor landscape has comparatively reduced the value of many college degrees. Programs with too much emphasis on theory often produce students with little to no practical skills. However, emphasizing hard skills can produce graduates trained in out-of-date methods and technology.
As a result, students are embracing alternative paths that combine vocational training, community college, and work experience. This enables them to avoid debt while they become more employable. Students who choose this path may have a head start against their college-educated peers. They have real-world experience and developed professional and industry relationships.
Practical Benefits of Vocational School
Vocational programs avoid some of the pitfalls of a traditional college education by focusing on up-to-date practical training. Students can complete some programs in under a year, which greatly reduces the likelihood of their skills becoming outdated when they enter the workforce. Additionally, vocational training programs often issue professional certificates that are valid in their industries.
Unlike college degree programs, whose curricula are often influenced by academic tradition, vocational training certificates are inspired by the needs of the private sector. This means that vocational programs can respond rapidly to current employer demands and ensure that graduates are learning relevant skills and techniques. Vocational programs also leverage their partnerships with the business sector to connect their students to hands-on training opportunities.
Students can benefit personally and professionally from internships, practicums, or apprenticeships. They offer invaluable real-world training and allow students to build relationships with employers. Businesses also benefit from this partnership, as the vocational program absorbs training and recruitment costs. It is very common for vocational training students to receive full-time job offers from their internship site.
Vocational programs can also serve as a steppingstone into careers that normally require a college degree. For example, rather than applying to nursing school right out of high school, students can start out in a certificate program. After gaining bedside experience, they can gradually sit seek additional education by completing an associate or bachelor’s degree. These students are better positioned to cash flow their education and avoid high-interest loans.
Customized Learning and Career Pathways
Vocational training is often associated with so-called “blue-collar” jobs. However, these programs can also open doors in the IT and computer science fields. In fact, for some positions, many companies prefer candidates with recent relevant certificates rather than four-year degrees.
This is because technology changes so rapidly that only shorter-term certificate programs are updated frequently enough to keep up. Many technology firms now offer their own certification programs that demonstrate that applicants have the most up-to-date skill set.
Additionally, the industry highly prefers candidates with proficiency in multiple software and tools. A four-year degree is not the most viable way to build competitive skills “stack,” which can also change rapidly. Completing respected certificate programs is a much faster, less expensive, but still reputable way for students to gain the skills that will give them a leg up in the marketplace.