--- title: Choosing Between Traditional Post Secondary and Private Career College description: Here is a look at why about 92,000 choose to enrol annually in a private career college versus traditional college to help choose which is right for you. image: https://blog.getatrade.com/hubfs/hall-congress-architecture-building-159213.jpeg --- [![NHSTA_Round-Logo_2021_NO-BACKGROUND](https://blog.getatrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NHSTA_Round-Logo_2021_NO-BACKGROUND.png?width=150&height=150&name=NHSTA_Round-Logo_2021_NO-BACKGROUND.png) ](http://getatrade.com) # Skilled Trades Blog # Choosing Between Traditional Post Secondary and Private Career College Posted by [Brad Dixon](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/author/brad-dixon) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![hall-congress-architecture-building-159213.jpeg](https://blog.getatrade.com/hubfs/hall-congress-architecture-building-159213.jpeg) When it is time to start looking into post secondary education choosing between traditional public post secondary institutions, such as colleges or universities, and a private career college can be a very difficult choice. Despite the fact that career colleges in Ontario provide education through approximately 600 colleges and annually sees over 70,000 graduates, private career colleges aren't often discussed as a viable post-secondary option. Here is a look at why approximately 92,000 choose to enroll annually in private career college versus traditional college. ## Graduation and Employment Rates Registered PCC's see a 77.2% student graduation rate. To compare that to publicly funded post secondary schools, only 66.7% of students finish their courses and graduate. Of the 77% of students who graduate, 71.2% of the students are employed in their field six months after graduation. Graduates from Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology see 83.4% of their graduating class employed after graduation. While this may seem like the best option is a public college, it's important to look at all of the stats combined. Looking at statistics of graduates and employed students, only 55.6% of students from public institutions graduate and are employed after six months. For a regulated career college, the number of graduated and employed students is also 55%. If you are concerned with making the wrong choice based on whether you will graduate and be employable, you are not overlooking an opportunity by choosing a PCC. ## Student Satisfaction Rates A survey completed in early 2017 by the Environics Research Group found that 72% of students surveyed who attended private career colleges said they were satisfied with their experience in the school. Only 2% of students reported being dissatisfied with their experience, the other 26% falling in the middle. [Students in private career school training](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/attending-a-private-career-college-for-gas-technician-course) find themselves satisfied with the ability for schools to provide accelerated program lengths, flexible schedules, small class sizes, and more hands-on training. Private career colleges offer the most comprehensive education for highly specialized programs, giving students the chance to study and focus on the skills required for the career they love. ## PCC Trades Schools [The Skilled Trades Academy is a registered Private Career College](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/why-you-should-go-to-a-private-career-college-for-gas-technician-training) under the Private Career Colleges Act 2005. As a result we are able to offer courses for Gas Technician training that lasts only 4 months, and provides thorough hands-on training to prepare you for the workforce. Our next upcoming Gas Technician course is approaching soon! There are still a few seats left in our November 6 course. Click below to register and secure your seat in the course. [![full time gas techincican training november](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/388155/fafa2d1b-79a1-4d94-8bf5-e5fb5fabdb81.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/388155/fafa2d1b-79a1-4d94-8bf5-e5fb5fabdb81) Topics: [Gas Technician](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/gas-technician), [Ontario Gas Technician Training](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-gas-technician-training) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Gas Technician (59)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/gas-technician) - [Career Opportunities (48)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/career-opportunities) - [Skilled Trades (29)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades) - [Gas Technician Careers (27)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/gas-technician-careers) - [Ontario Gas Technician Training (23)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-gas-technician-training) - [Trade School (19)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/trade-school) - [Course Length and Time (18)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/course-length-and-time) - [HVAC Careers (16)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/hvac-careers) - [Hands On Learning (16)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/hands-on-learning) - [Ontario Gas Technician (14)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-gas-technician) - [Transferrable Skills (14)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/transferrable-skills) - [Class Length (12)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/class-length) - [Women in the trades (12)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/women-in-the-trades) - [Graduate Profile (11)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/graduate-profile) - [Funding (10)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/funding) - [Skilled Trades Myths (9)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades-myths) - [Air Conditioning (8)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/air-conditioning) - [Night School (8)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/night-school) - [Ontario College of Trades (8)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-college-of-trades) - [Adult Education (7)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/adult-education) - [Air Conditioning technician (6)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/air-conditioning-technician) - [Training Schedule (6)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/training-schedule) - [Ontario HVAC Training (4)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-hvac-training) - [Halton Campus (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/halton-campus) - [Skilled Trades Career Fair (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades-career-fair) - [Skilled Trades Shortage (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades-shortage) - [Small Class Size (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/small-class-size) - [TSSA (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/tssa) - [Oakville Campus (2)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/oakville-campus) - [Ozone Depletion Prevention (2)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ozone-depletion-prevention) - [National Skilled Trades and Technology Week (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/national-skilled-trades-and-technology-week) - [National Tradesmen Day (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/national-tradesmen-day) - [ODP (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/odp) - [Onto (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/onto) - [Summer Courses (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/summer-courses) see all ### Follow Me - Course Information - [Course Calendar](http://getatrade.com/course-calendar/) - [Course Information](http://getatrade.com/course-information/) - [Ozone Depletion Prevention](http://getatrade.com/ozone-depletion-prevention/) - [Gas Technician](http://getatrade.com/gas-technician/) - About Our School - [About Us](http://getatrade.com/about/) - [Blog](http://getatrade.com/blog/) - [Resources](http://getatrade.com/resources/) ©2015 Skilled Trades Academy· Built with love by [Hughes & Co.](http://www.hughesandco.ca) Niagara and Halton Skilled Trades Academies are Technical Standards and Safety Authority training providers and are registered as a Career College under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.