“Historically, career and technical education (CTE) was seen as a dumping ground for students who weren’t considered college material.” This quote, while aggressive, was true for years. However, the narrative of vocational education has started to change dramatically. Today, vocational education is a legitimate option for many students who want a route other than a traditional university education. Despite the stigma around vocational education, people should consider the possibility of a different track than traditional college to best benefit from post-high school learning experiences.

Vocational education, or trade school, can be beneficial for many students for a variety of reasons. First, trade schools can allow students with particular niches to go directly into specific job opportunities. Education is about learning for the sake of learning, not just to get a job. As Emily Newton said in the Fayette Observer regarding the reason for attending college, “Many who can’t even answer the question: 'Why are you even here!?' because they don’t even know the answer themselves.” The passion for learning continues to fall in the newer generations, as people prioritize going to college to get a degree. 

My brother is one of the smartest people I have ever met, yet his grades in school do not reflect this. While he might not complete his math homework on time, he will work for hours at his woodworking bench, building benches, painting guitars, making guitar racks, and anything that he puts his mind to. On YouTube, he watches hundreds of videos on car engines, and has even started working on a car engine with my dad. Because of his niche and hands-on interests, my parents are heavily considering his future options regarding education. They believe that education is for the sake of learning and that vocational education would be the best route for him. Vocational education is not only a shorter way into an industry; it requires much more hands-on work to complete the education. This can be a great learning environment for people who do not fit in a typical classroom style environment. According to the U.S. Career Institute, “University education traditionally emphasizes theoretical knowledge rather than hands-on training and practical experience.” Because of this, people who have learning challenges or learn better with hands-on practice could benefit from this style of education. 

Not only does vocational education have a different style of learning, it also takes less to attend, both cost and timeliness. According to the Corporation Finance Institute, a vocational degree usually takes two years to complete. This can be beneficial to many students who do not want to spend as much time in the classroom and want direct access to a job. While a four-year degree does open up more opportunities regarding job options, a trades education can create opportunities for many people who can’t or don’t want to pay for a full university education. Francesca Maglione, writer of “Why U.S. Men Think College Isn’t Worth It Anymore”, states that Caden Yucha debated a university degree, but he “quickly realized it would have contributed debt, not income.” To Yucha, it was most important to get a job, so he turned to trades. Since working at his automotive collision shop, he’s already making $15 an hour.

Now, this might not seem worth it for many students. After all, a four-year education provides you with a degree and an opportunity to a much broader range of jobs. Along with that, the theoretical knowledge gained at university can be essential in daily life, especially regarding corporate and medical job opportunities. However, according to NACE data, the income post-bachelor's degree is $68,680. While this seems like a good income for a student post-college, it is barely more than the mean salary for vocational education, at $68,480 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). For the cost of a four-year education, it may not be worth it for many students to attend university, as they would gain immense debt for their education. Instead, a two-year education with a much lower price tag can allow many students to start making around the same amount of money as a student with a four-year degree. 

It is time for people to stop overlooking the benefits of vocational education. Whether it is the economic benefits, the hands-on learning experiences, or niche interests, there are many different reasons why trade schools could be beneficial for students who want a different option than a four-year education. It is time to rethink the typical college route. Vocational education can open many doors, both to your passions and career.