College vs. The Skilled Trades: What You Should Know

 There are many situations where college is necessary. If you want to become a doctor or lawyer or are interested in building a broad range of theoretical knowledge, for example. . These professions require years of mentorship and learning in an academic environment, which you’re unlikely to circumvent with “real-world” experience.

However, too many young people leaving high school or trying to choose a new path think college or university schooling is mandatory to build a successful career. 

First-year students in university have a drop-out rate of 24%, which adds up to thousands of students every year who enroll in full-time college only to realize it’s not the right fit. This leaves them with an average of $10,471 in student debt for a single year of college.

If you’re interested in building real-world skills, a better path may be pursuing an apprenticeship in the skilled trades rather than enrolling in formal schooling. The trades allow you to build skills that can set you on a path to a stable career, or even owning your own business someday. The apprenticeship learning model typically takes place in a hands-on work environment and is often a much shorter process than a four-year university or college degree.

Today, we’ll explore the differences between college vs. skilled trade apprenticeships, compare costs, and discover how to get the most out of these experiences.

Comparing the Costs of Skilled Trade Apprenticeships vs. College

Before we get into any other benefits and disadvantages that come with either college or a skilled trade apprenticeship, it’s essential to discuss finances. 

The costs of college

The average cost of a four-year full-time college degree currently sits at $ 35,551 per year for in-state students. These costs skyrocket if you consider going out of state or to a private university.

48 million Americans have some form of student debt, with an average balance of $28,400 still outstanding. Most will take at least ten years to pay off their loan.

The costs of an apprenticeship

In contrast, apprentices in skilled trades jobs can start earning from day one. While they will have to pay their living expenses and equipment costs, they typically make a basic salary, are eligible for raises as soon as they become more proficient, and also receive benefits like health insurance and 401(k).

The Pros and Cons of College Education

Often, people pay for university or even trade school, only to start at the same apprenticeship level as someone without any formal college education. This doesn’t mean college or trade school is necessarily the wrong choice. For some people, this time to mature and discover what they want to get out of a career path is necessary.

Here are some of the pros and cons of choosing to enter college first.

Pros:

• College or university programs offer a broad range of knowledge that you can build on. This can help you decide on a career path if you aren’t sure what you want to do.

• College degrees offer a certain amount of career flexibility, since many jobs require a bachelor’s degree at minimum.

• People with college degrees typically have the highest level of job security overall. However, this should be taken with a grain of salt as it depends drastically on your chosen career path.

Cons:

• If you don’t have a high school diploma or even good enough grades, you will not be able to get into college.

• College is typically geared towards individuals who learn well in a classroom setting. If you do not, the experience of trying to learn this way may be frustrating and demoralizing.

• Entering college does not guarantee a job. If you want to join the skilled trades, you will need to do much more hands-on learning before you can start working independently.

The Pros and Cons of a Skilled Trade Apprenticeship

If you know you want to enter the skilled trades, choosing the apprenticeship path over a formal college education may be the right choice. However, evaluating the pros and cons is essential to ensure you’re making an informed decision.

Pros:

• An apprenticeship offers learners the opportunity to build real-world skills in a hands-on way. This is an ideal learning environment for someone who needs to be actively engaged in their education.

• Since many apprenticeships don’t require any formal education as a prerequisite, you can start your career journey earlier and with less debt.

• The ongoing skilled labor shortage in the United States means that most apprentices have excellent job prospects in their chosen career path.

Cons:

• People entering skilled trade apprenticeships should be confident in their chosen career or job. If you are not, retraining in another discipline will take much more time.  

• Getting an apprenticeship in the skilled trade job of your choice may not be easy since there is often fierce competition for these positions.

• Apprentices are typically entrusted with greater responsibilities and obligations compared to peers who entered a four-year college program. This can be overwhelming until you learn how to adapt.  

Skilled Trade Apprenticeships Pay Off in Other Ways

Regardless of how you choose to train, there are many benefits to be gained from following a path toward one of the many skilled trades jobs in demand in 2023. These jobs offer dignity and purpose and play a vital role in society since they solve real-world problems that cannot be outsourced.

Unlike many other jobs, workers in the skilled trades will have to worry less about the threat of AI and machine automation since this has a much bigger impact on jobs in professional services. 

The Career Outlook for Skilled Trades

Many young people or those re-entering the workforce feel drawn to college or university because of the flexibility it offers. However, it’s important to note that the trades do provide substantial flexibility and optionality from a career standpoint.

If you apprentice in a skilled trade, you can work at a large company or a small one. You can choose to do residential or commercial work, freelance or work as an employee, or become an entrepreneur and start your own company.

While it will require additional training, you can also quickly retrain to switch trades during your career. This gives you a wide breadth of experience you can apply to many different trades.

Join TradeFoundry to Learn More About Skilled Trades Jobs in Demand

While college is a fantastic option for many people wanting to enter a professional services job, an apprenticeship also provides a strong foundation for a career. You can gain invaluable experience in any field that can then be grown and cultivated until you reach management or even company ownership.

Want to learn more about entering the skilled trades through an apprenticeship? Join TradeFoundry today to explore your options.