Battle Pen-cil: Universities vs. Career Colleges

by: Kathy Theodore

“A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don’t have a J.O.B.” ~ “Fats” Domino

Fats’ quote demonstrates that when it comes to getting a degree, universities aren’t always the best path. While universities provide students with a well-rounded education, they often fail to give students the career-specific skills necessary to succeed once on the job. In addition, upon university graduation students are generally on their own as far as the job market. A career college, on the other hand, provides specific training for a specific career and most career colleges also provide job-finding assistance post-graduation.

Career colleges specialize in occupational fields such as health care, computer and information technology, graphic arts and criminal justice. At career colleges, there is a lot of flexibility in course scheduling, while universities traditionally require students to adhere to pre-established curriculums. Most university students attend full time, many in residence at the university. Career college students often have full-time jobs and schedule their classes accordingly. The demographic at universities is generally younger; usually students are between 18 to 22 years old. Career colleges usually appeal to adults 25 and older who have decided to further their education but must also balance the demands of jobs and families.

University classes can be large, often with hundreds of students in one class, while career colleges generally offer smaller classes with the opportunity for more individual attention. At a university an associate degree usually takes two years to complete while bachelor’s degrees take four and master’s or doctoral degrees require six or more years. Career colleges, because they focus solely on career-specific skills, often allow for graduation in as little as one to two years.

Just like everything else, the cost of education has risen sharply. To compare the relative costs, according to the Career College Association (CCA), “as a general rule, career colleges are more expensive than community colleges and public four-year institutions and less expensive than private non-profit colleges and universities.”

When it comes to choosing your winning educational institute, consider your career goals, the time you are willing to spend in school as well as your plans for the future.