Vocational School vs. Traditional Universities: Environmental Differences

By: Kate Gredley

When choosing how to further your education, there are a lot of things to consider. Options abound for prospective students, between traditional universities, online programs, and trade schools. If you know you want face-to-face education and are trying to decide between a vocational school and a 4-year degree, here are some environmental aspects you’ll want to keep in mind.

Specificity

If you want to be around people with a passion for knowledge and broadening their horizons, then a traditional school might be the best place for you. If you’d rather be around people who have the same passions as you, trade school is the way to go. Both the students and instructors will be more knowledgeable in your specific field, so you’ll have more common ground.

Theory vs. Practicality

If you like theoretical discussion and knowing the history of why things are how they are, go for a traditional education. If you want to learn the HOW, technical school is probably more your speed. Trade school discussions will likely be more pertinent to the ins and outs of your future career.  If you’re still deciding on a career path though, traditional university is a great place to learn the basics of several fields so that you can make an informed decision.

Pacing

A bachelor’s degree can take 4 to 6 years, because you’re required to take a lot of core classes that aren’t specific to your major. Vocational programs only require classes that are relevant to you and your career path, so are often much shorter. That means you can start working (and making money) sooner. Vocational schools also usually offer schedules that are easier to work around, so you can get work experience while still in school. In this respect, traditional university often seems like you’re putting your life and career on hold until you get your degree.

Degree vs. Training

Traditional education is all about knowledge and preparation. You learn how to learn. You get a well-rounded perspective. You earn a degree. Vocational school focuses on hands-on, technical training. You get work experience. You learn how to do your job. You get a degree or certification, yes, but it’s more relevant to your life goals. Vocational school is part of your training, not a precursor to it. A general degree doesn’t prepare you for a specific career.

If you know exactly what career you want, it makes a lot of sense to choose a vocational school, where you’ll be immersed in the culture of your future work environment. You’ll be around people with the same goals and interest as you. In some cases, this might foster a healthy sense of competition between peers, because it’s very possible you’ll be going against each other for the same jobs in the future. 

If on the other hand, you want to go to school to increase your general knowledge, and expand your horizons, you might prefer the more open environment of a traditional university. 

Both are great choices, you just need to decide which the best is for you. You can create a tightknit group of peers in either environment.