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Pursuing a four-year degree can lead to a lot of great career opportunities, but there are also many lucrative career opportunities that require a more technical education that a university can’t provide. To pursue certain careers, it may be necessary to attend a technical school.

What are technical schools? In short, technical schools are postsecondary institutions that teach students specialized skills designed to prepare them for a specific profession or trade.

Continue reading for more insight into what technical school is and what the advantages and disadvantages of this education option are.

What Is Technical School?

As briefly mentioned, a technical schools meaning is a school that provides students with education and training in a practical and specialized trade or profession. Technical schools don’t lead to bachelor’s degrees like a university and instead result in earning diplomas or certificates that generally take less than two years to qualify for.

Technical schools are a good fit for students who know what career path they want to pursue, because when a student attends a technical school they choose a specific program designed to prepare them for a certain career. Students who attend technical school don’t take general education classes, which means they are not required to learn more about different disciplines before they choose where to focus their efforts.

Technical school courses include instruction and studying course materials, but also provide hands-on training that helps students build the skills they need to pursue their chosen career. Often, students who attend technical schools are connected to internship opportunities that help them gain real world work experience.

How Is Technical School Different From Trade School?

Trade schools typically focus on more hands-on careers that require having either a certain amount of on-the-job supervised hours in order to pursue a career or a certification of some sort. Trade schools offer hands-on education and prepare students for labor-focused jobs like working as an electrician or carpenter and similar to technical schools, trade school costs are generally less than university degrees.

Technical schools have more classroom lectures and simulated job training and can lead to more creative career paths like floral design, graphic design, and cosmetology, as well as more labor-focused jobs. A recap of the comparison between trade school and technical school is in the below table.

Trade School	Technical School
•   Hands-on education and training •   Prepares students for labor-focused jobs •   Helps students achieve certificates or supervised working hours	•   Classroom education and simulated job training •   Prepares students for labor-focused jobs and creative careers •   Can earn diplomas and certificates

How Is Technical School Different From Vocational Training?

A vocational school is generally the same thing as a technical school and people often use these names interchangeably. Some four-year universities offer vocational degree programs, such as becoming a paralegal, but some vocational programs like cosmetology can only be found at technical or vocational schools.

How Is Technical School Different From Community College?

Community colleges focus more on general education, but also offer technical training, whereas technical schools don’t teach general education at all.

Community College	Technical School
•   Students can pursue a general education •   Credits can transfer to four year universities •   Can prepare students for technical careers or to pursue further academic education	•   Only offers technical coursework •   Credits don’t transfer to universities •   Prepares students for technical careers

How Is Technical School Different From University?

Universities and technical schools are very different. They offer different degree programs, costs, time commitments and more. The table below provides an overview on the differences.

University	Technical School
•   Can pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree •   On-campus dorm •   Intramural sports •   Clubs and student activities •   Four-year degrees	•   Technical focus •   Less classroom learning •   Hands-on training •   Shorter programs

How Does Technical School Work?

The way that technical school works is students choose a specific program to pursue and then complete the required coursework to finish the program or earn a certificate that enables them to work in the career of their choice. Technical school involves hands-on instruction so students can learn valuable technical skills.

Getting Into Technical School

Generally, students need to have a high school diploma, state-issued GED, or to have passed a state-authorized equivalency exam in order to qualify for technical school, but students don’t have to compete for acceptance like they would at a four-year university.

Cost of Technical School

The cost of technical school can vary quite a bit based on factors including the school, its location, the program type and the length of the program.

What Can You Study in Technical School

A few examples of career paths technical school can lead to include:

•  Computer technology

•  Healthcare support

•  HVAC technology

•  Electrical installation and maintenance

•  Welding or plumbing

•  Hospitality/hotel and restaurant management

•  Culinary arts

•  Cosmetology

•  Floral design

•  Auto mechanics

•  Graphic design

•  Visual arts

•  Office administration

•  HVAC technology

•  Carpentry or construction

Pros and Cons of Attending Technical School

Now let’s look at some advantages and disadvantages associated with attending technical schools.

Pros	Cons
•   Only requires a one to two year commitment •   Some programs only last a few weeks •   Hands-on training for students who have chosen a career path	•   Limited program and course offerings •   Funnels into specific career paths which could feel limiting •   Academic credits don’t transfer to four-year universities

Technical High Schools

There are also technical high schools that prepare high school students for technical career paths while providing them with a more traditional high school education at the same time.

Financing Technical School

Students who are having trouble affording the cost of technical school or who want to save some money can pursue these options for helping them finance their education.

FAFSA

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each year while attending school, will allow technical school students to learn if they qualify for any grants, scholarships, or federal student loans. Check in with the financial aid office at your technical school if you have any questions about whether or not they participate in the federal aid program.

Grants

Grants are a form of financial aid that students don’t have to pay back. Essentially, a grant gives students free money to pay for their school tuition, fees, and supplies.

Scholarships

Scholarships are another form of gift aid that students don’t have to pay back. It can be a good idea to apply for scholarships to help lower the cost of attending vocational school.

Private Student Loans

Students who don’t qualify for enough gift aid or federal student loans to cover the costs of attending vocational school can apply for a private student loan through a private lender such as a credit union, bank, or loan lender. Unlike federal student loans, private lenders will often evaluate an applicant’s credit score and history, among other factors, when making lending decisions.

Recommended: A Guide to Private Student Loans

Usually, private student loans come with higher interest rates and less perks than federal student loans, so they are generally considered an option after federal options and other funding sources have been exhausted.

Employer Sponsorship

If someone’s employer would benefit from the skills they would gain by attending technical school, then their employer may be willing to pay for them to attend technical school by offering tuition reimbursement or some other form of financial aid. It can’t hurt for employed students to see what support programs their employer has in place.

Job Prospects for Technical School Graduates

Because different technical schools focus on different training programs, students need to choose one that has a program that aligns with their goals. For example, students who want to attend technical school may be doing so to pursue a career as an auto mechanic, electrician, hair stylist, or chef.

Is Technical School Right for You?

There’s no one right path to take after high school or when deciding to switch careers, but some may find that attending technical school can help them pursue the career of their choice.
Consider your career goals and the requirements for pursuing that career path. If that career path would benefit or require the training offered by a technical school, then it may benefit the student to explore attending a technical school. In some cases, another education option may help them reach that goal more effectively and efficiently than technical school.

The Takeaway

Attending technical school can be a great option for those who want to pursue a career that requires a specialized skill set, yet which doesn’t require a college degree. Technical school takes less time than pursuing a four-year degree and can lead to many great career opportunities.

Some students may find they can’t afford to pay cash for technical school and need to borrow money in order to finance their education. This is where private student loans could help.

SoFi’s private student loans aren’t available to technical school students, but may be worth considering for students transferring to a university. With SoFi private student loans, it’s easy to apply online and borrowers don’t have to worry about expensive fees. After graduation, they can enjoy a six month grace period to give them time to start their career before having to pay back their student loans.

It takes just a few minutes to find out if you pre-qualify for a no fee SoFi private student loan.

FAQ:

How are technical schools and trade schools different?

What’s a technical school and how does it differ from a trade school? The main difference between trade schools and technical schools, is that technical schools offer more classroom and instructional education, whereas trade schools do more hands-on training (although technical schools offer this type of training as well, just not as much).

How is college different from a technical school?

At a college, it’s possible to pursue a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes four years to complete, whereas technical school helps students work towards certificates that take two years or less to pursue. Students who attend college usually focus on more academic disciplines, whereas technical school teaches specialized skills.

What can you study at a technical school?

It’s possible to study many different subjects at technical schools and the subjects each school teaches can vary. For example, students can enroll in programs focused on computer technology, healthcare support, HVAC technology, electrical installation and maintenance, and plumbing.

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Photo credit: iStock/Laurence Dutton

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SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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Those looking to save on the price of higher education may decide to pursue community college as a path forward. What is a community college?

Community colleges are public colleges designed to make the cost of attending college more affordable for local students. While community colleges don’t offer four-year degrees, they have two-year degree programs and classes that can transfer to other colleges where students can obtain a four-year degree.

Keep reading for more insight into what a community college is and how these schools work, as well as how they compare to four year universities.

What Are Community Colleges?

Community colleges are colleges designed to serve the local community. Students live off campus (often at home with their families if they are young) and can pursue an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree, which typically only take two years to complete. Students have the option of taking courses that can transfer credits to a four year university so they can pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

Community colleges may also have vocational and technical programs for those looking to pursue careers that don’t require a four-year degree, but that do require technical knowledge. If you’re considering trade school vs community college, review factors such as the programs offered, time to complete programs, and any other opportunities (such as professional development opportunities) available at the schools.

How Do Community Colleges Work?

Community colleges provide a flexible learning opportunity that can help students reach a variety of goals. While some students attend community college with a goal to transfer after earning some lower division credits, some attend with the goal of earning an Associates degree.

Other students aim to earn technical certificates (similar or the same as what technical schools offer) and some simply attend because they love learning and want to pick up a new language, take a film history course, or brush up on a favorite subject. Students can choose to take one class or can enroll full-time.

Do They Accept Everyone?

Community colleges generally accept all students. For example, in California community colleges don’t have any testing requirements and students don’t need to have a certain GPA to be accepted. A high school diploma isn’t required either, but for students that want to apply for federal financial aid, usually a GED or high school diploma is required.

Why Are They Cheaper?

Community colleges are funded by the government in order to offer an affordable education for students. The average cost of attending community college for a year is $3,800, but in many states students who meet certain eligibility requirements can qualify for free tuition. Not to mention, there is generally no on-campus housing option for community college students and many choose to save money by living with a family member such as a parent.

What Kinds of Degrees Are Available?

What are community colleges for and what do community colleges offer? As noted previously, community colleges are designed to help students afford the cost of attending college locally. They offer AA and AS degrees, as well as technical and vocational programs. Attending a community college can also make it possible to transfer credits to a four year university so that the student can spend less time and money at a more expensive school.

Pros and Cons of Attending Community College

Before attending community college, there are some advantages and disadvantages worth keeping in mind.

Pros

Pros of community college include affordability, flexibility, and the opportunity to live at home while attending school.

More Affordable

On average, the annual community college tuition is $3,570 versus $9,970 for attending an in-state and public four-year college. Attending a public college out of state or a private college can cost even more.

Can Live at Home

Because community colleges are designed to serve local students, it’s usually possible to live at home with family while attending community college which helps keep education costs down.

Easier Acceptance

Community colleges don’t require a certain high school GPA or test scores in order to be accepted.

Flexible Course Scheduling

Community colleges may have flexible course schedules that allow students to work while attending classes. Some programs may also offer online or hybrid class models.

Cons

There are also some disadvantages, worth considering before attending a community college.

Credits Don’t Always Transfer

Certain course credits only transfer to select colleges which can make the transfer process confusing. Some community college students end up taking courses they don’t end up getting credit for when they transfer. It can help to work closely with your advisor to ensure the courses you complete at community college will transfer to the universities you are interested in transferring to.

Instructors May Not Be Full-Time

Some community college instructors teach at multiple colleges, which could make them less accessible when it comes to office hours.

Less Social or Extracurricular Opportunity

Community colleges have less of an emphasis on social life and activities since students commute and don’t live on campus. Many students also juggle work, parenthood, and other commitments outside of attending community college which leaves little time for socializing.

The table below outlines a recap of the pros and cons of attending a community college.

Pros	Cons
•   More affordable •   Can live at home •   Easier acceptance	•   Credits don’t always transfer •   Instructors aren’t full-time •   Less Social or Extracurricular Opportunity

Differences Between Community Colleges and Universities

When evaluating community colleges vs. universities, major differences include degree types available, cost, time commitment to complete a degree, and the application process.

Community Colleges	Universities
•   Lower cost •   AA and AS degrees •   Vocational and technical training •   Smaller class sizes •   May offer guaranteed acceptance •   Can’t obtain a four year degree	•   More expensive tuition •   BA and BS degrees •   On campus housing and meal plans available •   Competitive application process •   Specific admittance requirements •   Better athletic and extracurricular opportunities

What Are the Job Prospects for Community College Graduates?

Attending community college can lead to many different job opportunities in the business and labor sectors. From automotive technology to culinary arts to childcare to marketing to sales — the list goes on.

Additionally, community college graduates can continue their education if they are interested in a career path that requires a Bachelor’s degree or more.

How to Pay for Community College

Even though community college is one of the more affordable higher education options available to students, some may still need help affording the cost of tuition, fees, and books, which can cost thousands of dollars a year. Here’s a few options students can pursue for paying for community college.

FAFSA

Each year, students can fill out the free Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to find out what types of federal grants, scholarships, and federal student loans they qualify for. After seeing what grants they qualify for, students can better determine how much they actually need to spend and if they’ll need to borrow money to afford the costs of attending community college.

Grants

Speaking of grants, this is a form of gift aid that students don’t need to pay back. This is why it’s so important to fill out the FAFSA each year to see what grants are available.

Scholarships

Scholarships are another form of gift aid that students don’t have to worry about paying back. Each school’s financial aid office can help students learn more about what scholarships they have available, but students can also apply for scholarships with external organizations. There are a variety of online databases and scholarship search tools that students can use to learn more about scholarship opportunities.

Federal Student Loans

Federal student loans come from the U.S. Department of Education and as a result tend to have better interest rates and protections (like deferment and access to forgiveness programs) than private student loans for undergraduates offer. When students complete the FAFSA, they’ll learn more about which types of federal loans they qualify for and how much they qualify for.

Private Student Loans

Private student loans come from financial institutions like banks, credit unions, and loan lenders. These loans tend to cost more and how each lender handles repayment and fees, and the rates they charge can vary greatly. Generally, it’s best to exhaust federal student loan options before applying for private ones.

One important thing to know before applying for private student loans is that lenders will evaluate the applicants credit score and history, as well as their income are taken into account. The better someone’s credit history is, the better interest rates and loan terms they can qualify for. This is why many young students find it beneficial to add a cosigner to their private student loan application.

The Takeaway

Attending community college can lead students down many different paths, including transfering to a university that offers BA and BS degrees. Community college is typically a more affordable education option for students (unless they qualify for a full-ride scholarship to a four-year university) looking to pursue higher education.

That being said, some students may find they need to take out loans to afford the cost of community college. This is where private student loans can step in.

With SoFi Private Student Loans, borrowers can apply online with a cosigner in just a few minutes. While SoFi’s loans aren’t available to community college students, they may be an option for those transferring to a four-year university. There are no fees and graduates can enjoy a six month grace period before they have to start the repayment process.

Private student loans from SoFi have no fees, offer flexible repayment plans, and an easy online application.

FAQ

How are community colleges and regular colleges different?

Community colleges offer a variety of technical and vocational programs, as well as two year Associate degree programs. Regular colleges offer four-year Bachelor’s degrees, as well as graduate school degrees.

What purpose do community colleges serve?

Community colleges make achieving a post-high school education more accessible and affordable to students. Students can live at home with their families while attending a local community college so they can save money on housing while accessing affordable tuition.

Why are community colleges so much cheaper than 4-year universities?

Community colleges are funded by the government to help make pursuing a college education or vocational training more affordable. Community colleges also lack some of the expensive bells and whistles that large universities come with, like on-campus housing and dining halls.

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Photo credit: iStock/SDI Productions

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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