CHANGE MAKERS: Resources and Information
Know your options after high school.
4-Year University, Community College, and Trade School.
4-Year University
What is a 4-year university?
You earn a degree once you complete a program of study. 4-year universities usually offer a bachelor’s degree in the arts (e.g., English, history, drama) or sciences (e.g., biology, computer science, engineering). Some four-year colleges offer advanced degrees, such as master’s or other graduate degrees.
A college education offers you
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more freedom,
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more job opportunities,
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and more money
than a high school education.
College is a time for personal growth. As a college student, you’ll experience freedom as you never have before, by
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studying more on your own instead of in a classroom;
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meeting people from all over the country and world;
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studying abroad (it pays to learn a foreign language); and
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choosing your own unique courses
A major benefit of a college degree is having more jobs to choose from. Careers out of college include accountant, athletic trainer, engineer, pilot, social worker, and many more.
Graduating from a four-year college is one of the most dependable ways to increase your chances of employment and a higher income. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, young adults with bachelor’s degrees aged 25-34 had an average median annual income of $46,900 from 2000-2013. In contrast, young adults with only high school diplomas had an average median annual income of $30,000.
Community College offers you
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transfer guarantees,
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low-cost/free quality education (100+ different degrees and certificates),
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many support resources
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Community college offers low-cost and sometimes free education. Full-time students at Contra Costa College (CCC), Diablo Valley College (DVC) and Los Medanos College (LMC), for example, receive free tuition.
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There are programs such as the Transfer Admission Agreement (TAA) or Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) in the California Community College system that GUARANTEE transfer to 4-year universities. These universities include Xavier University of Louisiana, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, Clark Atlanta University, UC Santa Barbara and many more.
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You can take classes on your own time if you need to work part-time as well, but keep in mind that full time students can receive up to $6,495 per year or $3,247.5 per semester.
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For more details on these community college facts, follow this link for more information.
Community College
What is community college?
A two-year community college or junior college awards an associate degree once a student has completed a two-year course of study. Some two-year colleges grant diplomas or certificates to students who have met course requirements and are ready to practice in their career fields.
You can start at a two-year college then transfer to a four-year college if, for example, you’re concerned about college costs (community or public junior colleges usually cost less than four-year colleges). A two-year college is also a good option if you want to boost your grades before going to a four-year college.
Trade School
What is trade school?
Trade school is an institution that exists for the sole purpose of teaching the skills to perform a specific job. This specialized training can range from welding to cosmetology to medical imaging.
Trade school offers you
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specialized skills for your area of interest,
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only takes 1-2 years to complete,
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individual attention and hands-on learning.
Career-focused, practical training can help trade school students pursue in-demand jobs.
Trade schools may accept applicants without a high school diploma or those with low GPAs. Also, they usually don't have specific course, experience, or extracurricular prerequisites.
Trade schools often include live demonstrations and learn-by-doing projects. Some programs feature on-the-job training, as well. This allows learners to gain professional experience and training at the same time.