Graduating high school is an equally exciting and scary time. After graduating, new grads are now free to choose the next direction their path in life goes. For many, that involves going on to enroll in a four-year university and get their degree. 

While this career path is certainly encouraged by many and makes sense for some people, the truth is college is not for everyone. Many high school grads don’t have the time or financial resources to commit to a four-year program. Some simply aren’t sure what career path they want to choose right after college, so the investment doesn’t make sense for them. 

Our world has been somewhat programmed to think that a four-year college is the only way to get a decent job and expect it of everyone, but the truth is not so cut and dry. For those who don’t have the interest, time, or money to go to a university there is an equally rewarding career path awaiting high school graduates who attend a trade school.

Attending a trade school and learning a skilled trade, especially HVAC, can open up doors for post-high school careers that recent grads may not have ever thought possible. Job security, an above-average wage, the path to owning your own business, and much more all starts with attending trade school.

Here are just some of the advantages trade school attendees enjoy as an alternative to college. 

Cheaper tuition

College is NOT cheap. Even attending a nearby, public, in-state college for a bachelor’s degree can cost you at least $25,000 per year. With most of that coming from loans even if you are able to secure some financial aid you are still looking at hundreds of thousands in student loan debt you will be dragging around for years to come.

Some people think that is the price of a career, but that simply isn’t true. The average cost of attending a trade school is only around $33,000 in total. That is less than a single year’s tuition at many private schools. In addition to a lower entry cost, many trade schools and community colleges also offer financial aid to reduce that cost even more.  

Faster graduation

While committing time towards furthering your education is never time wasted no matter where you do it, four years can be a long commitment that some recent high school graduates can’t afford. Some have families they need to provide for right away, and waiting an additional four years to find a good-paying job isn’t an option. On top of that, universities also often require you to move away for the majority of your attendance. People with families to provide for can’t afford to be away that long.

Trade schools not only offer a cheaper means of beginning your career, it is also a far faster way. Where many college programs require a minimum of four years to complete, graduation from a trade school is something that can be accomplished in months. Classes at the Training Center for Heating & Air Conditioning, for example, can be completed in only 14 weeks, just over three months.

Learn an in-demand skillset

Even after graduating from an accredited university with a degree, many graduates are still greeted with a less than bountiful job market. Although they want students to go to school, many organizations are still unsure about hiring a new graduate. The time between college graduation and securing one’s first job can be a long and deflating period.

Careers in the trades, however, have never been in more demand. The world needs professionals in the HVAC and other skilled trades now more than ever. There is a combination of not just a lack of workers entering these industries right now, but a wealth of openings and opportunities. Pursuing a career in a skilled trade like a plumber, automotive repair technician, or HVAC technician is as close to a guaranteed job out of school as you can find. 

Enter a respected trade industry

Not only are jobs in the trades abundant, but a career of this kind also puts you in a position to become a well-respected and valued member of the community. The skills you learn in trade school are valuable, known by a limited community, and mastered by even fewer. These skills put you in a unique position to solve very complex and specialized problems for folks in need.

Not everyone has the knowledge of how to fix a broken air conditioner in the middle of a hot summer or repair their car when they are stranded on the side of the road. The specialized skills you acquire in a trade school give you access to a career where you truly are a savior in the eyes of the people you serve.  

Careers in the HVAC industry can be incredibly rewarding and are in high demand right now. If you are a recent or upcoming Houston, Texas area high school graduate and pursuing a four-year college degree just doesn’t make sense for you, you can still start an excellent HVAC career at The Training Center for Heating and Air Conditioning. Class sizes are limited and spots go fast! Call 281.580.4239 today to learn more and reserve your spot for the upcoming session.