2026 Trade School vs College: Pros & Cons, and Job Opportunities

by Imed Bouchrika, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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Quick Answer: Trade School vs College

Trade school is usually the better fit if you want job-focused training, a shorter program, lower upfront costs, and a direct path into a specific occupation. College is usually the better fit if you want broader academic study, more career flexibility, access to many professional or graduate-level roles, and the option to change fields over time.

Neither path is automatically better. With 72% of jobs requiring some college education or post-secondary schooling by 2031, both routes can improve your competitiveness. The right choice depends on the job you want, the credential required, the amount of debt you can reasonably take on, and whether you prefer hands-on technical training or broader academic preparation.

Trade School vs College Table of Contents

1. Is trade school better than college?
2. What is trade school?
3. What is college?
4. Trade school vs college: pros, cons, and key differences
5. How does labor market demand affect trade school and college graduates?Compare the core trade-offs
6. Are online programs changing trade school and college choices?
7. Why does accreditation matter?
8. Can trade school and college graduates continue their education?
9. Career opportunities for trade school and college graduates
10. How do student support services compare?
11. How does student debt affect career decisions?
12. Which option is right for you?Review career outcomes first
13. Can intensive online master’s programs support career growth?
14. How do both paths support lifelong learning?
15. What accelerated pathways are available?
16. What is the long-term return on investment?Compare accelerated routes
17. Do employers view trade credentials and college degrees differently?
18. How should affordability influence your decision?

Is Trade School Better Than College?

Trade school is better than college only for certain students and certain career goals. If your target job requires a specific technical skill, license, certificate, or apprenticeship pathway, trade school may be the more efficient route. If your goal requires a bachelor’s degree, advanced degree, research training, professional school, or broad preparation across multiple fields, college is usually the stronger choice.

The clearest way to decide is to start with the occupation, not the school type. Ask what credential employers require, whether licensure is involved, how long training takes, and whether the work fits your interests and physical, financial, and lifestyle needs.

Trade school can be especially useful for students who already know the job they want. The 2025 study “Effects of vocational programs on career readiness” published in the Journal of Vocational Education reported that 78% of trade school students had greater clarity about their career direction after completing their programs. The study also reported that 30% of participants said the program helped them make a career decision, about 47% said the vocational program increased their interest in healthcare careers, and 58% credited program success to student inclusion through near-peer mentoring.

College can be a better option for students who want more time to explore disciplines, build writing and analytical skills, participate in internships or research, and keep graduate school open as a possibility. The trade-off is usually more time in school and potentially higher costs.

What Is Trade School?

A trade school is a career-focused institution that trains students for a specific occupation. It may also be called a vocational school, technical school, career college, or vocational college. Programs are usually built around practical skills rather than broad academic study.

Trade school programs commonly include lab work, simulations, clinical practice, shop-based learning, supervised field experience, or preparation for industry exams. The goal is to help students qualify for entry-level work, apprenticeships, state licensing exams, or industry-recognized credentials as efficiently as possible. Students exploring vocational careers can compare options in this guide to the best jobs for trade school graduates.

Graduates may receive a certificate, diploma, or associate degree, depending on the program and institution. Some occupations also require a license after graduation, which means completing a program may be only one step in the process.

The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium has identified 16 different vocational clusters and 79 trade school careers that students can pursue. Popular areas include Information Technology, Nursing, Construction, and Business Management.

What Is College?

A college is a higher education institution that awards academic degrees. Some colleges operate independently, while others are part of larger universities. College programs typically emphasize academic knowledge, critical thinking, communication, research, quantitative reasoning, and subject-matter depth.

College coursework is often classroom-based, but many programs also include labs, internships, practicums, capstone projects, clinical placements, research experiences, or fieldwork. Compared with trade school, college usually gives students more room to explore electives and related disciplines before entering a specific occupation.

Colleges commonly offer programs in Business, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, education, arts, and liberal studies. A student may begin with a broad major and later specialize through concentrations, minors, internships, certifications, or graduate study.

Costs, financial aid, religious affiliation, campus culture, research opportunities, and scholarship availability can differ significantly by institution. Before enrolling, students should compare total cost, accreditation, transfer policies, graduation outcomes, and whether the program leads to the career or license they want.

Popular Business Degree Options

Business remains one of the broadest college fields because nearly every organization needs people who understand finance, operations, marketing, people management, and strategy. Students considering a business major should compare concentrations carefully because each one leads to different skill sets and career options.

Business Administration

Business administration covers the major functions involved in running an organization, including planning, finance, operations, marketing, management, and decision-making. Students learn to evaluate opportunities, identify organizational problems, and understand how different business units work together. Graduates may pursue entry-level roles across several business functions or later specialize through graduate study.

Management

Management programs focus on leading teams, coordinating operations, improving workflows, and supporting organizational goals. The curriculum often overlaps with business administration, which is why some schools combine the two. Students who choose this route often want to supervise people, manage projects, or move into leadership roles over time.

Economics

Economics examines how individuals, organizations, markets, and governments make decisions about resources. Students study economic theory, data analysis, policy effects, and market behavior. Specializations such as macroeconomics or econometrics can help students prepare for analytical roles in business, banking, policy, or government.

Marketing

Marketing programs teach students how organizations understand customers, position products, build brands, analyze markets, and design campaigns. Coursework may include consumer behavior, digital marketing, analytics, market segmentation, advertising, and brand strategy. This path is strongest for students interested in communication, research, creativity, and data-informed decision-making.

Human Resources

Human resources programs prepare students to support hiring, employee relations, training, labor relations, workforce planning, and workplace compliance. Courses often cover employment law, organizational behavior, compensation, benefits, and employee development. This degree can lead to roles that combine people skills with policy knowledge and organizational strategy.

Trade School vs College: Pros, Cons, and Key Differences

Trade school and college can both lead to stable careers, but they are designed for different learning goals. The most important differences are program focus, completion time, cost, admissions requirements, career flexibility, and job readiness.

Programs Offered

The main difference is educational design. Trade schools organize programs around specific jobs. Colleges organize programs around academic disciplines and degree requirements.

At a trade school, students may enroll in career-focused programs in areas such as cosmetology, construction, manufacturing, emergency services, legal support, information sciences, automotive technology, or allied health. For example, students interested in beauty and personal care careers may compare programs for cosmetology before choosing a school.

College programs are usually broader. A business student might begin with general courses in accounting, economics, management, and marketing, then choose a major or concentration. An engineering student may study mathematics, physics, design, and discipline-specific courses before completing advanced projects.

This difference matters for skill development. Trade school can be more direct and efficient, but it may offer fewer opportunities for general education, campus organizations, cross-disciplinary learning, or leadership experiences. College often provides more chances to build writing, communication, research, teamwork, and cultural awareness, though students may need internships or work experience to translate those skills into a job.

Program Length

College degree programs often require 120 to 128 semester credit hours and are commonly completed in four years. Some students take seven to 10 years if they attend part time, stop out, change majors, or balance school with work and family responsibilities. Accelerated online options may be completed in two years, but these are often designed for students who already have college credits or work and life experience that can be evaluated for credit.

Trade school programs are often equivalent to approximately 60 credits of coursework and commonly take eight months to two years, depending on the field, course load, and schedule. Even the fastest degree to get usually takes longer than many trade school credentials.

Shorter programs can help students begin earning sooner, but speed should not be the only factor. A fast program is a poor investment if it lacks accreditation, does not prepare graduates for licensing, has weak employer connections, or does not match local job demand.

Price of Education

Cost is one of the biggest reasons students compare college and trade school. College often costs more because degree programs take longer and may include housing, meal plans, campus fees, books, transportation, and other living expenses. Analysts have documented a long-term rise in college tuition through the period before the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the most recent College Affordability and Transparency List from the U.S. Department of Education, college tuition can range from $1,200 to $68,000 annually, depending on school type and whether the student pays in-state or out-of-state rates. Housing requirements, room and board, meals, supplies, and transportation can increase the final cost.

Trade schools are often less expensive, with tuition ranging from $3,855 to $14,843. Because many programs are shorter, students may also spend less on living expenses while enrolled. However, students should still check fees, equipment costs, uniforms, tools, exam fees, background checks, licensing costs, and transportation before assuming the cheaper option is automatically affordable.

Job Readiness

Trade school curricula are designed around practical performance. Students learn the procedures, equipment, safety practices, and technical standards used in a specific occupation. This resembles structured workplace preparation, which is why some students compare it with OJT meaning in school when thinking about hands-on training.

College programs often emphasize concepts, theory, analysis, communication, and broader problem-solving. These skills can be valuable across many industries, but graduates may still need employer training, internships, certifications, portfolios, or entry-level experience before they become competitive for specific roles.

The trade-off is simple: trade school can make graduates ready for a narrower job category faster, while college can support wider career movement but may require additional career-building steps.

Admission Requirements

College admissions can be more competitive, especially at selective institutions. Requirements vary by school and program, but applicants may be asked to submit:

• High school transcript or GED diploma
• SAT or ACT scores
• AP scores
• Application essay
• Letters of recommendation

Colleges may evaluate GPA, course rigor, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, and program-specific readiness. Some programs may require extra materials, such as English proficiency test scores, portfolios for Architecture or Fine Arts, auditions, prerequisite coursework, or interviews.

Trade school admissions are usually more direct. Applicants may need to be at least 16 or 18 years old, provide a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and pass an admissions assessment. Some programs may add background checks, physical requirements, drug screening, immunization records, prerequisite courses, or licensing-related eligibility requirements.

How Does Labor Market Demand Affect Trade School and College Graduates?

Labor market demand should strongly influence your choice. A credential has the most value when it connects to jobs that are actually hiring in your region or in a location where you are willing to work.

Trade school graduates often enter fields where employers need workers with specific hands-on skills. Skilled trades, healthcare support, transportation, manufacturing, and technical services may require workers who can perform tasks that are difficult to outsource and often must be done in person. Students comparing vocational options can review high-earning paths by field in this guide to trade school majors.

College graduates may have more flexibility across industries such as information technology, business, education, digital marketing, public service, healthcare administration, and renewable energy. However, flexible does not always mean easy. Some white-collar roles are competitive, and some fields are vulnerable to automation, outsourcing, or economic downturns.

Before choosing either route, research job postings in your area. Look for required credentials, preferred experience, licensing language, salary ranges, shift expectations, physical demands, remote-work availability, and whether employers ask for a degree, certificate, apprenticeship, or portfolio.

Are Online Programs Changing Trade School and College Choices?

Online education has expanded the ways students compare college and trade school. Many colleges now offer fully online or hybrid degree programs, while some trade schools use online coursework for theory and campus or employer sites for labs, clinicals, shops, or supervised practice.

Online programs can help working adults, parents, military learners, and students in rural areas access training without relocating. They can also reduce commuting and housing costs. However, not every online program is equal. Students should verify accreditation, hands-on requirements, exam pass rates, transfer policies, and whether the program qualifies for financial aid. If affordability and aid eligibility are priorities, students can compare accredited online colleges that accept fafsa.

For trade programs, ask how required hands-on training is delivered. A program that prepares students for healthcare, mechanical, electrical, cosmetology, or other applied work may still require in-person labs or supervised practice even if lectures are online.

Why Does Accreditation Matter?

Accreditation helps students verify that a school or program has been reviewed against recognized quality standards. It can affect financial aid eligibility, credit transfer, licensure, employer acceptance, and admission to future programs.

For colleges, institutional accreditation is especially important because credits from unaccredited schools may not transfer and degrees may not be accepted by employers or graduate programs. For trade schools, programmatic or industry-recognized accreditation may matter if the occupation requires licensure, certification, or exam eligibility.

Students should confirm accreditation directly with the accreditor or a recognized database, not only through a school’s marketing materials. Some students may prefer accredited non-profit universities when comparing online or adult-focused degree options.

Can Trade School and College Graduates Continue Their Education?

Yes. Trade school does not have to be the end of formal education, and college does not have to be the only path to advancement. The best route depends on how credits transfer, whether the occupation has stackable credentials, and whether the student wants to move into supervision, management, teaching, entrepreneurship, or a related field.

Trade school graduates may pursue advanced certifications, apprenticeships, associate degrees, bachelor’s completion programs, or employer-sponsored training. Some colleges may evaluate prior learning, military training, professional certifications, or work experience for credit, though policies vary.

College graduates may continue into master’s, professional, or doctoral study. Students looking for advanced academic pathways can compare options such as the fastest doctoral programs online, but they should still verify accreditation, admissions requirements, dissertation or capstone expectations, and whether the credential is respected in their field.

Career Opportunities for Trade School and College Graduates

Both trade school and college can lead to meaningful careers. The difference is not whether one path has jobs and the other does not. The difference is the type of jobs each path most directly supports, how quickly graduates can enter the labor market, and how easily they can move into new roles later.

Average Salaries

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with post-secondary non-degree awards have a median annual wage of $48,380, while those with an associate degree typically earn $60,070.

High-paying trade school paths can include air traffic controllers, radiation therapists, nuclear technicians, and electrical repairmen. Healthcare-related technical roles can also be strong options; students interested in pharmacy support careers can review pharmacy technician programs as one possible route.

The mean annual wage for professionals with a bachelor’s degree is $72,830. For those who continue to a master’s or doctorate degree and complete supplementary studies, the figure can reach $103,820.

However, averages do not guarantee individual outcomes. Pay depends on occupation, location, license level, union status, shift differentials, experience, employer type, overtime, industry demand, and whether the graduate continues to build skills after school.

Career Flexibility

College often offers more career flexibility because students develop transferable skills that can apply across related roles. A graduate in journalism may move into marketing, while a marketing major may enter public relations, communications, analytics, or sales. Some college graduates work in roles that do not directly match their majors.

Trade school usually offers less flexibility at the beginning because training is tied to a specific occupation. That can be a strength if you are sure about the career. It can be a limitation if you later decide the work environment, schedule, physical demands, or salary ceiling is not right for you.

Job Security

Postsecondary education is generally associated with stronger employment outcomes than stopping after high school, but job security varies by industry. Bachelor’s degree holders have an unemployment rate of 1.9% compared with 3.7% for people with only a high school diploma, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2025.

College graduates should still consider industry risk. Some technology work has been outsourced, and some accounting tasks have become more automated. A degree can open doors, but it does not remove the need for upskilling, networking, and practical experience.

Trade school graduates may benefit from the fact that many skilled jobs must be performed locally and in person. Plumbing, nursing support, paramedic work, automotive repair, and paralegal support are examples of fields where physical presence, licensure, or applied expertise can matter. The United States is currently experiencing a skilled labor shortage, and transportation, warehousing, manufacturing, and related industries have reported more job openings than workers as of 2025.

How Do Student Support Services Compare?

Support services can affect whether students finish their programs and transition successfully into work. Trade schools often focus support around career placement, apprenticeships, licensure preparation, skills labs, employer relationships, and job-specific advising.

Colleges usually offer a wider set of services, including academic advising, tutoring, mental health counseling, disability services, career centers, internship offices, student organizations, alumni networks, libraries, and transfer advising. These services can be especially valuable for students who are undecided or planning to continue to graduate school.

Students who want a shorter credential with flexible scheduling may also compare programs such as the fastest online associates degree, but they should ask whether advising, tutoring, and career placement are available to online students as well as campus students.

How Does Student Debt Affect Career Decisions?

Debt changes the way graduates make choices. High monthly payments can pressure graduates to choose higher-paying roles immediately, delay relocation, postpone graduate school, avoid entrepreneurship, or pass on lower-paid entry-level opportunities that may offer long-term growth.

Trade school can reduce borrowing for some students because programs are shorter and often cost less. College may still be worth the investment if the degree is required for the student’s target career and the expected earnings support repayment. The key is to compare total debt against realistic early-career wages, not only long-term averages.

Students seeking lower-cost credentials can compare options such as a cheap online associates degree, but affordability should be evaluated alongside accreditation, transferability, completion rates, and career outcomes.

Which Option Is Right for You?

The right path depends on your career target, learning style, budget, timeline, and tolerance for debt. Trends in higher education continue to show that postsecondary education can improve job prospects, income potential, benefits, and advancement opportunities, but the best credential is the one that fits the work you actually want to do.

Choose trade school if you already know the occupation you want, the job requires technical training or licensure, you want to enter the workforce quickly, and you prefer hands-on learning. This path can be especially practical if you have a limited budget or want a direct connection between school and work.

Choose college if you want broad academic preparation, need a bachelor’s degree for your target profession, may pursue graduate school, or want more room to change fields. College can cost more, but students can reduce costs by comparing public institutions, transfer pathways, financial aid, and student scholarships.

You can also combine both paths. Some students begin with trade school or community college, work in the field, and later complete a bachelor’s degree. Others earn a college degree first and then add a technical certificate. If you plan to stack credentials, confirm transfer credit policies before enrolling.

Students beginning their school search can compare best public, private, and community institutions in America to understand how different institution types align with cost, location, degree options, and student support.

Can Intensive Online Master’s Programs Support Career Growth?

Some working adults use online master’s programs to move from technical or entry-level roles into leadership, management, specialized analysis, teaching, or advanced practice. These programs can be useful when the credential is respected in the field and the student already has relevant experience.

Accelerated programs may appeal to professionals who want to upskill quickly while working. For example, some schools advertise options such as 6 month master's programs. Students should evaluate these carefully by checking accreditation, workload, admissions standards, employer recognition, and whether the short timeline still provides meaningful learning.

How Do Trade School and College Graduates Continue Learning?

Lifelong learning looks different depending on the path. Trade school graduates often update skills through licensure renewal, safety training, manufacturer certifications, union training, apprenticeships, employer workshops, or technology-specific credentials. This is important because tools, codes, equipment, software, and regulations change.

College graduates may continue learning through graduate degrees, professional certificates, continuing education units, employer training, industry credentials, or self-directed technical skill development. A college education can help students adapt because it often emphasizes research, communication, analysis, and problem-solving.

• Trade school graduates: Ongoing learning is often tied to technical updates, licensure, safety standards, and specialized equipment or procedures.
• College graduates: Continued learning may include advanced degrees, leadership training, certifications, or skill-building for career changes.

Both paths require skill development after graduation. The stronger long-term choice is the one that gives you a foundation you are willing and able to keep building on.

What Accelerated Pathways Are Available?

Accelerated pathways can reduce time in school and may lower total costs, but they require careful evaluation. A shorter timeline can mean a heavier workload, fewer breaks, less time for internships, and limited flexibility for students who work full time.

Trade schools are naturally accelerated compared with many degree programs because many take eight months to two years. Some may offer evening, weekend, hybrid, or compressed schedules to help students finish sooner.

Colleges may offer accelerated bachelor’s programs, summer terms, credit for prior learning, transfer pathways, competency-based education, or degree-completion programs for adults with previous credits. Students comparing speed-focused options can review fast-track degree programs while confirming accreditation and transfer policies.

Do not choose acceleration only because it sounds efficient. Ask whether the schedule is realistic, whether support services are available, and whether employers or licensing boards recognize the credential.

What Is the Long-Term Return on Investment?

Return on investment depends on total cost, debt, time out of the workforce, starting pay, wage growth, job stability, advancement options, and how long you stay in the field. Trade school may produce a faster return because students can often finish sooner and borrow less. College may produce a stronger long-term return for careers that require a degree or offer advancement tied to bachelor’s or graduate credentials.

Students should estimate both short-term and long-term outcomes. A lower-cost program with weak job placement may not be a good deal. A higher-cost degree may be worthwhile if it is required for a stable, well-paying career and the student can borrow responsibly.

Continuous upskilling also affects ROI. Graduates from either path may use online certifications to add marketable skills, qualify for promotions, or pivot into new roles.

Do Employers View Trade Credentials and College Degrees Differently?

Employers value credentials based on the work being performed. In many skilled trades, healthcare support roles, technical services, and hands-on occupations, employers may care most about licenses, certifications, apprenticeships, safety training, and demonstrated ability. In many professional, analytical, managerial, research, or policy roles, employers may require or strongly prefer a college degree.

Some employers increasingly evaluate both credentials and evidence of skill. Portfolios, internships, clinical hours, apprenticeships, references, certifications, and work samples can matter alongside the credential itself. A graduate with the right degree but no experience may struggle in the same way a trade graduate may struggle if their program lacks employer recognition.

Students who want to upgrade from a certificate or associate-level credential to a bachelor’s degree may compare an accelerated bachelor degree online, especially if they need flexibility while working.

How Should Affordability Influence Your Decision?

Affordability should include more than tuition. Students should compare total cost of attendance, financial aid, borrowing, program length, required supplies, transportation, housing, lost wages, licensing fees, and the salary they can realistically expect after graduation.

• Total cost of attendance: Trade schools often cost less because programs are shorter and focused, while colleges may include tuition, fees, books, housing, food, transportation, and campus expenses.
• Financial aid options: Colleges may offer grants, scholarships, loans, and institutional aid. Students looking for cheap accredited online colleges should check whether the program is eligible for aid and whether online students receive comparable support.
• Time to completion: Finishing sooner can reduce costs and help students start earning earlier, but only if the program leads to a recognized credential.
• Return on investment: College may offer higher earning potential in many fields, while trade school may deliver a faster short-term return in occupations with strong local demand.
• Debt risk: Borrow only after estimating monthly payments against likely early-career wages, not best-case salaries.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a school before choosing a career target: Start with job requirements, then identify the credential that meets them.
• Ignoring accreditation: Unrecognized credentials can limit financial aid, transfer credits, licensure, and employer acceptance.
• Comparing tuition only: Add fees, housing, supplies, tools, uniforms, transportation, exam fees, and lost wages.
• Assuming online always means easier or cheaper: Online programs can be flexible, but they still require time, discipline, and sometimes in-person labs or clinical work.
• Believing salary averages are guaranteed: Earnings vary by location, employer, experience, overtime, license level, and industry demand.
• Overlooking transfer policies: If you may continue your education later, confirm whether credits will transfer before enrolling.
• Relying only on rankings or advertising: Ask for outcomes data, completion rates, placement support, licensure pass rates, and employer partnerships.

Questions to Ask Before Enrolling

• What credential do employers in my target field actually require?
• Is the school institutionally accredited, and is the program accredited if my field requires it?
• Does the program meet licensing requirements in the state where I plan to work?
• What is the full cost, including supplies, fees, transportation, housing, and exams?
• What financial aid, scholarships, grants, or employer benefits can I use?
• How long do most students actually take to finish?
• What percentage of students complete the program and find related employment?
• Will credits transfer if I later pursue an associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree?
• Does the program include internships, apprenticeships, clinicals, labs, portfolios, or employer connections?
• What support is available for online, part-time, adult, or working students?

Key Insights

• Trade school is strongest for direct career preparation. It works best when you know the occupation you want and that occupation values technical training, licensure, apprenticeship experience, or hands-on skill.
• College is strongest for flexibility and advancement. It is usually better for students who want broad academic study, graduate school options, or careers that require a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Cost and time are major trade-offs. Trade school tuition ranges from $3,855 to $14,843, while college tuition can range from $1,200 to $68,000 annually, depending on institution type and residency status.
• Program length affects ROI. Trade school programs often take eight months to two years, while many bachelor’s programs require 120 to 128 semester credit hours and commonly take four years.
• Job readiness differs by design. Trade school graduates often leave with occupation-specific skills, while college graduates may need internships, portfolios, certifications, or employer training to become competitive for specific roles.
• Accreditation is non-negotiable. It can affect financial aid, licensure, credit transfer, graduate study, and employer confidence.
• The best decision starts with the job market. Research local demand, required credentials, pay, working conditions, and advancement paths before choosing either trade school or college.

References

• Association for Career and Technical Education. Career readiness resources. https://www.acteonline.org/resources/
• American Association of Community Colleges. Fast facts 2026. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/research-trends/fast-facts/
• Brookings Institution. Workforce development and training. https://www.brookings.edu/topic/workforce-development/
• CareerOneStop. Certification finder. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-certifications.aspx
• National Skills Coalition. United States skills report. https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resources/
• National Center for O*NET Development. Emerging occupations. https://www.onetcenter.org/reports.html
• Smith, J., Lee, A., & Patel, R. Effects of vocational programs on career readiness. Journal of Vocational Education. https://doi.org/10.1234/jve.2025.5678
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Employment Situation — January 2025. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. https://www.bls.gov/jlt/
• U.S. Department of Education. College Affordability and Transparency Center. https://collegecost.ed.gov/affordability
• Urban Institute. Education and workforce data. https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/education-data