What are You Doing After High School?
The possibilities of post-secondary education
Post-secondary education, which includes college and career technical school, is a level of education or training that goes beyond high school. While many are familiar with the term “college” often times they may not know that institutions of higher learning can be classified into many different categories. Knowing the different types of colleges might be the first step in helping a student narrow down their research to see which institutions best fit their needs, abilities, interests, and intended career path.
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Here are some Helpful links:
Develop a Career Plan
Explore Possible Careers with the Career Cluster Inventory
College Search
Typical Time to Graduate
Career, Technical, Trade or Vocational Courses
Time to complete:
1-2 Years
Master's Degree
Time to Complete:
Bachelors Degree PLUS
1-2 Years
Associate's Degree
Time to complete:
1-2 Years
Doctorate Degree
Bachelor's and Master's Degree PLUS 2-3 Years
Bachelor's Degree
Time to Complete:
4 Years
Types of Post-Secondary Schools
Career Schools
Career schools, also known as technical, vocational, or trade schools focus on hands-on application of skills need to do a specific job. This kind of institution is similar to a community college in that it offers specific career-oriented programs that last from a few months to a couple of years. Most are specialized and offer intense training in one specific skill area.
Community Colleges/ Junior College
Community colleges typically offer two-year
associate degrees that prepare you for a certain career while giving you the possibility of transferring to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. They may also offer certificates that align with your intended field.
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Liberal Arts Colleges
These types of colleges are typically four-year institutions that emphasizes a broad undergraduate education. It offers exposure to the sciences, history, philosophy, music and art in an effort to provide a well rounded education while pursuing a bachelors degree. Most liberal arts institutions are private.
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Universities
Universities offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, and sometimes have professional schools such as law school or medical school. Universities tend to be larger than colleges, may have larger class sizes, and often focus on scholarly or scientific research.
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Other Classifications of Post-Secondary Schools
Specialty Institutions
Examples: Art Institutions, Nursing Schools, Engineering Colleges, Military Schools, etc. focus on a specific areas of study or career fields.
Private Institutions
Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students. Private colleges have many of the same degree options and traditionally small classroom sizes.
Public Institutions
Public colleges are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located. Public colleges and universities often times offer more degree options, and bigger classroom sizes.
Religious Affiliated Institutions
All religious affiliated colleges are private institutions. Because of the separation of church and state, no public funding can be used by private religious education institutions. Students attending a religious affiliated institution are often required to attend certain religious classes or courses and may have to meet special entrance requirements.