Within
postsecondary education in the United States, you can choose from a
great variety of study areas and types of schools. Once you've chosen
an area of study, you may be able to determine more easily the type of
school you should attend. Or you may be more interested in the
different opportunities offered by a certain kind of institution.
Wherever your search begins, keep reading to find out more about your
postsecondary schooling options in the United States.
Vocational Training/Trade Schools
Vocational training, trade schools, or technical schools offer training and hands-on experience in a specific field of study and are aimed toward getting students ready to join the workforce in a certain trade. Vocational schools are not concerned with a liberal arts education, where students learn subjects such as philosophy and arts, but give students training only in their chosen job field. Some popular subjects at vocational schools include:
- Mechanics
- Carpentry
- Plumbing
- Health Care
- Computer Technology
If you know a particular trade that you are definitely interested in, this type of training may be the best choice for you. It is typically a shorter program than other forms of postsecondary education but may not necessarily offer a degree or certificate.
Junior or Community Colleges
Both junior and community colleges offer two-year programs of study that result in an associate degree. Junior colleges are privately owned, whereas community colleges are publicly funded. In the United States, many more community colleges exist than junior colleges. These programs can either prepare students to enter the workforce or help them enter a four-year institution. Many times credits from junior/community colleges transfer to four-year programs. American and foreign students often choose to attend a junior or community college for the first two years of their higher education because they are typically more affordable and have lower entry requirements.
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Four-year colleges and universities offered the greatest diversity of programs and also the highest level of education—a bachelor's degree. Most colleges and universities offer a liberal arts education, which means that students take a broad range of classes in the humanities (for example, philosophy, history, and literature) in addition to classes in their subject area. Admission to four-year institutions is more selective than that for community colleges. In the United States, colleges and universities can be either publicly or privately funded. Most public institutions are larger, while many private institutions are smaller and can be religiously affiliated, offering students coming to the United States a large number of choices.
Colleges and universities also offer graduate degrees; some offer only master's degrees and some offer doctorates as well.
