Debate: is a 4-year degree still worth it or are trade schools the better bet?

My cousin dropped $40k on a communications degree and still can't find a job. My buddy went to trade school for welding, spent $8k, and is making $60k a year now. Which route do you think pays off better in the long run?

2 comments

2 Comments

joelp8123d ago

My cousin went the same route, communications degree, about $45k in debt, and she's working as a receptionist now. It's really hard to watch someone you care about struggle like that when they did everything they were told was the right path. The welding trade school story is one I hear a lot more often these days, and it makes me wonder if we've been giving bad advice to young people for the last twenty years. I just hope your cousin finds their footing soon, sometimes it takes a few years for things to click for people with degrees.

blairj5523d ago

Wait, has anyone actually run the numbers on the lifetime earnings difference? My buddy Tommy spent 6 years getting a philosophy degree and now drives for Uber. That's not really a career path, you know? Meanwhile my other friend Sarah went to trade school for HVAC repair, spent maybe $12k total, and now she's running her own crew making over $80k a year with zero debt. I've seen too many people stuck with desk jobs they hate just because their degree got them in the door. But then again, I've also met electricians who are broke because they couldn't handle the physical work or got laid off when construction slowed down. Honestly it just depends on what kind of life you want, not just the paycheck at the end.