Trade School vs. College: Which Should You Attend?

Trade schools provide hands-on, career-focused practical training and reliable job access, but is it the right option for you? The trade school vs. college debate has ramped up in recent years as students increasingly consider alternatives to four-year degree programs. So, how does a trade school program compare to college, and which type of institution should you study at?

Find insights that can help you answer these and other important questions in this guide comparing these two common educational pathways.

Trade schools — also known as vocational schools, technical colleges, and career colleges — prepare students for specialized careers in applied fields. They typically use a combination of classroom and hands-on instruction to help students develop practical, job-ready skills. Some programs also include field placements, allowing students to gain firsthand knowledge from working professionals.

Trade schools commonly offer programs in areas like:

The college model focuses on the in-depth scholarly study of academic subjects, typically emphasizing theory and critical analysis over applied practice. However, some college programs, like accounting and nursing, cover career-focused subjects normally associated with trade schools. In these cases, colleges offer a deeper learning experience leading to professional-track careers with more advancement potential.

Trade schools usually take less time: In most cases, you can graduate in two years or less. By comparison, it typically takes four academic years to complete a bachelor’s degree.

For many years, college was widely considered a more reliable path to higher-paying careers with advancement potential. However, this perception has recently shifted: In May 2025, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) reported a nationwide trade school enrollment increase of nearly 20% since the spring of 2020.

Meanwhile, enrollment in associate degree and bachelor’s degree programs has slipped below pre-pandemic levels. These trends indicate that students increasingly consider trade school a desirable and practical way to build job-ready skills that support success in a tough employment market.

Both institution types have similar graduation rates. The U.S. Department of Education reports a median graduation rate of 67% at certificate-granting institutions, while the NSCRC cited a 62.2% college graduation rate in 2023.

The cost of trade school vs. college depends on many factors, including program length and institution type. Many trade schools are two-year for-profit schools, which on average, charged $16,300 in annual tuition in 2022-23, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Meanwhile, two-year public schools, which also offer trade programs, only charged an average of $4,000 the same year. In contrast, four-year public schools charged an average of $9,800 per year, which amounts to nearly $40,000 after four years of study.

If your institution is accredited, you may be eligible for federal financial aid. Some institutions award aid that does not have to be paid back, such as full-ride scholarships, merit scholarships, and institutional grants.

Earning potential varies widely by field of study and career path. This trend applies to graduates of both trade schools and colleges. However, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that college graduates generally enjoy an overall edge.

BLS data reports that the average weekly earnings of a professional with a bachelor’s degree was $1,543 as of May 2024. Meanwhile, people with postsecondary schooling but no degree — a category that includes most trade school graduates — made $1,020 per week, on average.

Top-paying fields can lead to similar pay rates for graduates of both institution types. For example, the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported an average annual starting salary of $66,578 for business management graduates from the class of 2023.

Meanwhile, a November 2023 Department of Labor report cited similar median annual pay rates for trades like occupational therapy assistants ($64,250) and computer numerically controlled tool programmers ($60,800). Notably, the median annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers, who also must graduate from trade school, was $81,350 in 2023.

Trade schools are generally set up to be more accessible than colleges, with simplified admission requirements and processes. However, this does not necessarily mean they are easier.

Difficulty is always subjective, and it heavily depends on your personal interests, aptitudes, and skills. Trade schools have some aspects that can pose challenges, including:

At the same time, trade school programs are shorter. If you have a feel for the material, your learning can be very direct. Ultimately, the relative difficulty of trade school relative to college comes down to your learning style, abilities, and goals.

With postsecondary students increasingly turning to trade school for job-focused practical training, you may need help deciding which option to pursue. The following comparison offers a high-level look at trade school vs. college, highlighting situations where you might favor one over the other.