College isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue some form of higher education or job training. When you think about your future, what do you envision? Are you doing something you love, or are you just working for a paycheck?

If you’re one of the many trying to make a decision about where to spend your money and invest your future, keep reading. This article provides a comparison of 4-year colleges and technical schools. Which of these is correct for you?

How to choose between 4-year colleges and technical schools:

Ask yourself these questions, and then consider the benefits and drawbacks of each type of school.

What are your goals? Do you have a specific professional goal? What are your educational goals? Want to learn as much as you can on a variety of topics? Do you want to learn as much as you can about a specific topic (become an expert)?

What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Would you benefit from a shorter, more targeted program?

Lifestyle. How will school fit into your life? Would you benefit from non-traditional programming, such as online, evening, or distance learning? Both 4-year colleges and technical colleges offer such options, but they vary by school, so check with any school you’re interested in attending.

What do you need? Realistically, what kind of degree or training do you need to pursue your dreams? Research your desired field – learn what the requirements are and how they compare to the programs you are considering. The US Department of Education website offers resources for career and training research.

Be a consumer. Check equipment; Is it new and updated? How does it compare to the equipment you will use on the job? Trust me, this can be tedious, but it is very important. After I graduated, I realized that I should have taken more time to research the computer programs that employers expected me to know for technical writing jobs. If I had been better informed, I could have taken additional courses related specifically to those programs.

Research the following: campus size, current and former students, faculty, and staff;

Find out if the school is accredited and licensed; Do they make extraordinary claims? Will your credits be transferable?

4 year colleges

Some people like to learn just for the sake of learning, while others are more focused and motivated and use school as a springboard to advance at work. If you are interested in more academic pursuits, a traditional 4-year university might be your best option.

Benefits: liberal arts training applies to many fields, various topics to explore, prestige, “college life”

Disadvantages: expensive, time consuming, may get a degree in an area you no longer want to pursue, high admissions standards and prerequisites, job market may be slower after graduation; may require additional training

Technical Schools

If college was for everyone, technical schools wouldn’t exist. Some people may feel that technical schools carry a stigma. In a society where going to college has become the standard, we lose sight of the value of vocational training. People feel abnormal and may get angry if they don’t want to go to college, but feel pressured to do so anyway.

Benefits: length, shorter focused programs, easier admissions standards, flexible scheduling, certifications not necessarily offered at 4-year universities, hands-on training

Disadvantages: may be seen as less prestigious, may be expensive, may have less room for exploration of other issues, accreditation, for-profit institutions

Many of the fastest growing jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree, but do require post-secondary education (education beyond high school). These jobs include:

or Physician Assistants

o Social and Human Services Assistants

o Aid for home health

o Medical records and health information technicians

o Physiotherapist assistants

o Physical therapist assistants

o Physical trainers and aerobics instructors

o Veterinary technologists and technicians

o Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

o Dental hygienists

o Occupational therapist assistants

or dental assistants

o Aid for personal and home care

o Self-enrichment education teachers

o Occupational therapist assistants

o Science and environmental protection technicians, including health.

o Preschool teachers, except special education

o Respiratory therapists

For more information on job growth statistics, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Remember, the best way to determine what is right for you is to simply know yourself and be informed.