College isn't for everyone, and many people prefer going to trade school to kickstart their careers. If you are considering this option, your timing couldn't be better: The U.S. is experiencing a labor shortage, and the situation is especially dire for skilled trade sectors, from welding to dentistry assistance. Whether you’re a high schooler trying to decide on your next steps or a professional wanting a change, a trade career is a smart choice.

3 Advantages of Trade School

1. Shorter Time Commitment

A traditional career path usually involves going to college, completing graduate school, and then entering the working world. A trade school trajectory is much shorter. Depending on the program you pursue, you could be fully credentialed and ready to work in as little as a year.

2. Get Hands-On Experience

Individuals who go through college must often get real-world experience through unpaid internships. In a trade school, you gain hands-on training as part of the program from the very beginning. By the time you graduate, you're fully prepared to enter the working world and begin getting paid! 

3. Lower Cost

A college education is not cheap. The College Board reports that the average cost of tuition for an in-state student at a public college is $10,000 per year. An associate's degree or certification from a community college or trade school costs less, roughly 30-40% of the cost of traditional colleges. This means less debt and a lower turn-around on paying off student loans.

Great Oaks Career Campuses of Cincinnati, OH, provides a top-quality trade school education at affordable prices. Both high school graduates and adults looking to start a second career are welcome here. You will get a low-cost education from an accredited institution where the teachers have hands-on experience in the fields they instruct. As a public institution, they also offer financial aid. Visit their website to review their education offering, which covers everything from EMT training to dental assistant programs. If you have questions about their school, give them a call at (513) 771-8881 today.