If you're looking into your post secondary options and are torn between a private career college and traditional college, one thing we recommend thinking about is what you're getting out of what you're paying for your education. Typically private career college programs run cheaper, or comparable, to traditional post secondary school prices. However, it's important to note the value of an education from a private career college.

Shorter Course Lengths

When you attend a private career college, such as the Skilled Trades Academy, you will likely find yourself in school for a shorter period of time. This gets you out of the classroom and working faster. While some programs at traditional schools may have a similar cost as a PCC, the length of time you cannot be working full time is much longer. By getting back to working full time quickly, it's much easier to pay for your skilled trades training.

Many traditional college programs run for more than one year, which not only extends the time you're unable to work full time, but also doubles the amount students are required to spend on their education.

Learning Only What You Need

At a PCC, the focus of your education is to gain the skills you need to leave the school and head into a successful career in your chosen trade. Many traditional post-secondary schools require that you take an elective course, something unrelated to your program. While these courses can be interesting and do have value, for students looking who are hoping to get out of school and working quickly it can be difficult to see that value.

With an education at a PCC, the comprehensive and hands-on education focuses specifically on your trade. This way you graduate from the programs with all of the knowledge you need to be successful in skilled trades jobs, and your tuition that you pay exclusively goes to pay for the education you need.

Further Specialized Courses

If you want to expand your education and take courses to continue learning and using trade-specific skills, private career colleges often offer these specialized classes.

At the Skilled Trades academy you can take an Introduction to Residential Air Conditioning course to expand on your skills learned in our Gas Tech 3 or 2 courses, or the Ozone Depletion Prevention course if you're interested in becoming an HVAC technician. These courses are not required, however. This means if you're not interested in this course, you are not obligated to pay for it through your tuition, which is a benefit not afforded by traditional college programs.