School Types

Certifications | Trade/Vocational and Technical | Two-Year | Four-Year and Six-Year | Liberal Arts | Public vs Private | Sam Sex | Special Interst

Certifications-Obtained through an accredited school or institution recognized by an industry, a certificate is a first step toward a degree. Certificates are a credential, of high value in business and industry, and will help make you more employable. Most certificate programs consist of four to six courses in a single discipline. Click here to learn more about Certifications

Trade/Vocational and Technical Schools-A trade/vocational or technical school is a a secondary school teaching the skilled trades/specific skills. Typically students take only courses that relate to their specific area of training rather than general education courses. Program durations can range from 1 month to two years.A key advantage to selecting a trade or technical school is that training may be completed faster than at a community college. Because a trade school is less costly to attend, and provides graduates with immediately useful skills, going to trade school is an option that many high school graduates consider an alternative to a college or university. Common trade school programs include, Graphic Design, Culinary Programs, Aircraft Mechanic, Autobody Repair, Medical Transcription, Examples: ITT Tech, Healde, Bryman College, Le Cordon Bleu.

Two-Year Schools- Two-Year schools are often called Junior, Community, City or County Colleges. The education and degree programs can either academic, technical or both. Two-year schools are more economical means of attaining education than four-year colleges and universities.The highest degree awarded at a two-year college is a two-year degree. Two-Year colleges provide general and liberal education degree programs for an associates or for transer degree to a Four-Year college. Examples of two year schools would be City College of San Francisco, Portland Community College. etc..

Four-Year and Six-Year Schools-Four-Year and Six-Year schools are typically called colleges or universities. They offer awards bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees with teaching and research facilities and produce the majority of all degrees in the US. Four-Year and Six-Year schools are much more expensive per year than two year schools.Campus facilities and student bodies are much larger also.

Liberal Arts Schools -Liberal Arts schools focus on an education that is of general knowledge (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, arts) as well as focus on intellectual skills and real time thinking rather than occupational or professional skills.Many Liberal Arts schools allow students to customize their education by choosing their courses and coursework while working more closely with teachers and professors. Liberal Arts schools can be public or private schools, are more expensive than public, and sometimes have religious affiliaton.

Public vs Private Schools - Publicly supported schools receive funding from the states in which they are located and are generally state colleges or universities or two-year community colleges. Private or "Independent" schools are not supported by state taxes so their tuitions tend to be much higher. Many private schools are also religiously affiliated or denominational schools.While state supported public schools generally have a mixed variety of students in age and race, and socioeconomic backgrounds, many private schools selectively pick the students they want. Debated also are the education offered and required at public vs.private schools.Public school education is seen to be inferior to private, due to increased student to teacher ratio and because the increased price of private school allows for attracting the best teachers with the higher salaries. Where public school education is seen to be more rouned, private schools have flexibility to create specialized programs for students.

Same Sex-Receive an education without the intimidation or distraction of the opposite sex.

Special Interest Schools-Special Interest schools focus on one field of study, totally imersing the student in the subject and similar people who have the same goals and interests. For Example: Engineering or Music. These schools can be an excellent choice for students who already have their associates and are very focused.