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Explore Career Programs at Trade Schools, Community Colleges

By U.S. News & World Report

Students who want to learn a trade in less time than it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree, and in some cases for less money, can look to technical schools and vocational programs at community colleges for the training they need to start a career.

Vocational programs offer skills training and certification in specific career fields such as car repair or welding. The programs are offered by four-year colleges, community colleges and stand-alone institutions. Prospective students will need to weigh several options to find the best type of institution for them.

Luciano Riviera, 21, would work on his car: changing the oil, fixing the brakes and any other repairs he could do in his driveway. He went to Vaughn College in New York to study aeronautics after graduating from high school. After attending the institution for a semester, Riviera realized that a traditional college experience wasn’t for him. He dropped out and worked for a furniture moving company for two years before he decided to complete at 13-month automotive technician certification program at Lincoln Tech nical Institute.

The language used to describe technical schools and the specific programs they offer vary by institution and state. Vocational programs include a wide variety of fields from health care and the skilled trades like those in the manufacturing industry. Some trades are high-earning and in high demand.

[Discover how students can start vocational training in high school.]

Community colleges, or technical schools that have articulation agreements with local community colleges, are a good option for students who want to earn a degree now or in the future, experts say. For example, in Colorado, students can earn a certificate from a technical school and finish the classes they need to complete a degree at the Community College of Denver, says Chris Budden, dean of the center for career and technical education at the college.

Students may earn certifications more quickly at technical schools since those institutions aren’t likely to follow a traditional academic calendar or have issues with class availability.

“There’s no break for the summer because the students that come to us want to start earning an income as quickly as possible. You start in one month and if it’s a 12-month program, you finish 12 months later,” says Scott Shaw, president and CEO of Lincoln Educational Services, a for-profit vocational school system that includes Lincoln Technical Institute.

Specialty schools that only focus on a few disciplines may have more resources, in terms of equipment and personnel, and can offer a more job-focused approach than community colleges, which tend to offer a wide variety of degree programs, experts say.

Unlike degree-seeking programs, technical schools aren’t likely to require traditional classroom study in core subjects like math or English. Instead, students are likely to learn applied math that is specific to their trade, experts say.

Students may find a similar approach at community colleges that offer what are known as stackable credentials. For example, at the Community College of Denver, students working toward an Associate of Applied Science can take general education courses at different points in the degree program.

“It’s not like we require them to take a bunch of psychology, sociology, English and that kind of thing upfront. We start them right off with the courses in the program in which they want to have a career,” says Budden.

[Find scholarships for vocational and trade students.]

Good vocational programs are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, get input from industry leaders regularly about the skills students need to be successful in the workplace, replicate the environment and standards students will experience in the field and have qualified instructors and up-to-date equipment to prepare students for today’s work environment, says Bob Kessler, campus president at Universal Technical Institute in Exton, Pennsylvania. The for-profit institution prepares students for careers in the transportation industry.

He encourages prospective students to also look at institutions that can help students meet personal needs, like housing and financial aid.

Prospective students should talk to current students to get a feel for what’s really happening at the institution, experts say.

Ask about job placement rates and find out where most students go to work after graduation, experts say. Under the Department of Education’s gainful employment rule, vocational programs at for-profit colleges and nondegree seeking programs at community colleges have to disclose information on the average debt level of students in the program, job placement rates, graduation rates, average income and program-level default rates, among other items.

[Learn how students can use the new gainful employment rule to evaluate technical schools. ]

Riviera, a technician at Mercedes-Benz in New York says that the school was instrumental in helping him land his position.

“The career services at Lincoln Tech are excellent as far as helping you out and finding a job, and not only a job, one that is close to you,” he says.

A private technical school is likely to be more expensive than a community college, but you can use traditional methods of paying for school, such as scholarships, student loans and federal student aid, to pay tuition as you can with a community college. Schools may also offer payment plans.

Trying to fund your education? Get tips, news and more in the U.S. News Paying for Community College center.

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Explore Career Programs at Trade Schools, Community Colleges originally appeared on usnews.com

Correction 02/04/16: A previous version of this article misstated Bob Kessler’s title.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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