DOES YOUR CHILD WANT TO PURSUE A TRADE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
Here at Rosedale Technical College, our staff and instructors are experienced and ready to prepare your child for a meaningful life, which can start with a career in the trades. With programs spanning a variety of industries, they’re sure to find something that suits their interests at our school.
A Bright Future in the Trades:
A Guide to Trade Schools for Parents
It can be a tough decision when it comes to choosing the best way to put your high school student through college. You want what’s best for them, and you want to make sure they’re making the right decision for their future. There are a lot of things you want to know — and for good reason!
What is a good technical education program? What’s the earning potential after trade school? What will the total cost be for a vocational school? How much financial aid can be offered?
There’s good news: when you have imagined putting your child through school, you might have thought you would be seeing them all the way through to their bachelor’s, and this might not actually be the case. With technical and trade schools, your child can get started on their career path sooner rather than later. They can begin earning an income and contributing to society in a meaningful way. Not to mention, the cost of trade school is often a fraction of what it costs to go to a four-year university.
You’re not alone in wanting to make sure that your child is making the best decision for their future. Rosedale is here to help you through every step of the way.
Let’s Build the Future
With Trade School Careers
What’s The Average Cost of Trade School vs. College?
Here’s the tricky thing: the average cost of a four-year college is actually averaging somewhere around $35,551 per student per year. Most graduates, however, pay up to $127,000 in total for their bachelor’s degree. The majority of these students graduate with staggering amounts of student loans, which could take them several years to work through. It’s not the best way to begin a career, but it’s always seemed like the only way to so many people.
On the other hand, trade schools usually average out around $30,000 for an entire education. That’s about the cost of just one year of traditional college, and sometimes, only one semester. Not to mention, financial aid is available. Tech school programs are training students to be electricians, technicians, and welders. Typically, those jobs can garner salaries that are right on par with what you would expect from bachelor’s, which, again, costs you nearly a hundred thousand dollars more. In the majority of cases, people are able to graduate with fewer than three years of debt.
In high school, a traditional four-year college is regarded as the only way to seek higher education. Vocational training is barely mentioned by teachers or guidance counselors. For many people, elementary school marks the beginning of college planning and those plans are almost always aimed at the same targets. When you consider how high trade school job placement rates are, it doesn’t make much sense.
Career Outlook for the Trades
The trades need qualified, skilled workers in different industries, making it an ideal opportunity for you to jump into a top career in your field of choice. While the trades used to be more predominant, many workers shifted to soft-skill jobs after US companies went abroad to fulfill many of their manufacturing needs. Because of this, more workers left trade jobs at a faster rate than the jobs were outsourced, leaving a gaping need in the trade industry for more workers — and a massive opportunity for those entering the workforce.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the number of jobs in each field in 2020:
- Automotive Service Technician: 703,800 jobs
- Automotive Body and Glass Repairer: 173,400 jobs
- Diesel Technician: 275,400 jobs
- Electrical Engineer Technician: 117,00 jobs
- HVAC Mechanic: 380,400 jobs
- Welder: 418,200 jobs
- Industrial technician: 64,100 jobs
- CDL Driver: 1,951,600 jobs
Help Your Graduate Choose the Right Career
First and foremost, you can help your student choose a trade. If you haven’t already, create an open line of communication with your child to learn more about where they see themselves in 5 or 10 years. If necessary, there are specialized programs that allow people to sample different career paths to help make an informed decision–it could be well worth the research. Do whatever you can to help pinpoint what the most fulfilling career path will be and know this: the trades are definitely hoping for more passionate individuals to become experts in their fields.
Students want to learn about how the world works. They don’t always want to spend the entrance into adulthood learning about overly specific topics that don’t feel useful or hold little personal value to them. 81% of high school dropouts state that the teaching of real world skills could have kept them in school. How can we expect them to be prepared for the curveballs of life when the education they receive only teaches them a fraction of what they need to succeed?
Do plenty of research on what the day-to-day looks like for different trades. There might be things your child wouldn’t initially consider, but once they realize they’re skilled enough to do it, they want to learn more. We love to help our students graduate, and prepare them to work in a rewarding career within their chosen skilled trade. Most students who apply for financial aid at trade schools qualify for at least partial coverage, so be sure to check out the parent resource center for more info.
OUR TRADE SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Our programs have a student-centric approach built around your student’s needs, so they are fully prepared to enter the workforce. For example, our certified instructors work with small groups of students. In this way, each person gets a chance to receive help and perform hands-on projects with cutting-edge equipment and technology.
Choose a Flexible Schedule
Rosedale offers flexible schedules that accommodate different types of learners. For example, if your student already has a job, many programs have nighttime schedules where they can also work a full-time day career while they complete their education.
Your Student Can Take Our Online Quiz to Help Them Decide which Program is Right for Them.
What Credentials Do the College and Faculty Have?
You will only want to attend trade schools that have accreditations, certifications, and highly trained staff to ensure your student’s degree carries weight when they apply for jobs.
Rosedale College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and is licensed by the Pennsylvania Board of Private Licensed Schools. Additionally, our automotive and diesel technology programs have met the automotive service excellence standards of the ASE Foundation. The instructors of the courses are also ASE certified.
Rosedale’s
FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS
The average cost of a trade school per year is $16,500 total for tuition and supplies. However, tuition often ranges between $3,674 and $15,923, depending on how long the program lasts and what you are studying. In addition, other materials you might need, such as books, raise the cost. At Rosedale Tech, students may be eligible to live in off-campus housing if you need a residence close to the school.
We understand that costs can quickly feel overwhelming when looking at higher education. That’s why we have a simple financial aid process. Our financial aid officers can examine a student’s situation and create a personal plan.
Are you unsure whether you can afford trade school? Our school is eligible for receiving financial aid.
Some of the loans, grants and awards our students are eligible for include:
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Grant
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Student Educational Assistance Foundation Grant
- Federal Direct Loan Program
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans
- Veterans Benefits
- Workforce Investment Act
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Trade Readjustment Allowances
- Pittsburgh Promise
- Various 3rd party scholarships
- Rosedale Technical College Institutional Grants
- #1 Cochran Technological Excellence Center Scholarships
While we can’t guarantee acceptance of these financial aid options, we have seen most of our students receive some type of financial aid.
JOB PLACEMENT AFTER GRADUATION
Our Student Success Team is ready to help our graduates find satisfying and quality trade school careers. Through student services, they can get help writing a resume and cover letter, preparing for an interview, and networking with employers to improve their chances of job placement after graduation.
Some other ways we help with their job placement are through career fairs, employment while they study, and company partnerships.
We also have a Facebook Alumni group that helps graduates stay connected with their instructors and classmates after graduation. This network will be their support throughout their career and can help them find other positions if they choose to change jobs in the future.
Learn More
About Rosedale
What opportunities does Rosedale offer high school students to explore the different trade programs?
Shadow a Student at Rosedale as they attend class for an inside look at how a typical day might play out.
Attend a High School Field Trip to Rosedale Technical college to experience hands-on demonstrations, tours, and presentations.
Join Us for an Open House either in person or virtually to explore our programs, meet instructors, see the school, and learn about the financial aid process.