CampusROI
Data Analysis

Trade School vs. College: 8 Career-by-Career Comparisons

We paired 8 trade careers against their closest college equivalents. Training costs, starting salaries, 10-year earnings, and how many years until college overtakes the trade path - all side by side.

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024-25 data. College Scorecard average net prices.

$8K-$90K
Trade training cost range
$70K-$85K
Average college net cost
5 of 8
Trades win or tie on early ROI
5-12 yrs
Time for college to break even
Trade / Vocational

HVAC Technician

Vocational school or apprenticeship

Training cost
$10,000
Training time
6-12 months
Starting salary
$42,000
Median salary
$57,300
10-yr job growth
+9%
4-Year College

Mechanical Engineer

Bachelor's degree (BS)

Avg net cost
$75,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$65,000
Median salary
$100,000
10-yr job growth
+11%
Trade wins on ROIBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~8 years. HVAC breaks even by year 3. Mechanical engineering earns more by year 8, but only if you finish the degree.
Trade / Vocational

Electrician

IBEW apprenticeship + licensing

Training cost
$12,000
Training time
4-5 years (apprenticeship)
Starting salary
$44,000
Median salary
$61,590
10-yr job growth
+11%
4-Year College

Electrical Engineer

Bachelor's degree (BS)

Avg net cost
$80,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$72,000
Median salary
$110,000
10-yr job growth
+9%
Depends on your goalsBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~9 years. Electricians earn during their apprenticeship. EEs earn more long-term. If you want $100K+ salary potential, the degree pays off - but takes nearly a decade to surpass the trade path.
Trade / Vocational

Plumber

UA apprenticeship + licensing

Training cost
$10,000
Training time
4-5 years (apprenticeship)
Starting salary
$42,000
Median salary
$61,550
10-yr job growth
+6%
4-Year College

Civil Engineer

Bachelor's degree (BS)

Avg net cost
$75,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$58,000
Median salary
$95,000
10-yr job growth
+6%
Depends on your goalsBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~10 years. Plumbing earns during training. Civil engineering overtakes it around year 10 due to the higher salary ceiling. Both careers have strong job security.
Trade / Vocational

Dental Hygienist

Associate's degree (AAS)

Training cost
$45,000
Training time
2-3 years (associate)
Starting salary
$52,000
Median salary
$83,200
10-yr job growth
+9%
4-Year College

Registered Nurse (BSN)

Bachelor's degree (BSN)

Avg net cost
$80,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$58,000
Median salary
$83,000
10-yr job growth
+6%
Trade wins on ROIBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~4 years. Dental hygiene is one of the best two-year degrees in the country by ROI. Less debt, 2 fewer years, same long-term salary as nursing. The math strongly favors hygiene.
Trade / Vocational

Radiologic Technologist

Associate's degree + ARRT certification

Training cost
$45,000
Training time
2 years (associate)
Starting salary
$50,000
Median salary
$68,750
10-yr job growth
+6%
4-Year College

Healthcare Administrator

Bachelor's degree (BS) + often MBA

Avg net cost
$75,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$48,000
Median salary
$110,000
10-yr job growth
+28%
Depends on your goalsBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~6 years. Rad tech is lower risk with faster earnings. Healthcare administration has a much higher ceiling but requires more schooling and takes longer to climb.
Trade / Vocational

Software Developer (Bootcamp)

Coding bootcamp + portfolio

Training cost
$15,000
Training time
3-6 months
Starting salary
$65,000
Median salary
$130,160
10-yr job growth
+25%
4-Year College

Computer Science (CS Degree)

Bachelor's degree (BS)

Avg net cost
$85,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$85,000
Median salary
$130,160
10-yr job growth
+25%
Depends on your goalsBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~5 years. Bootcamp grads earn faster and carry less debt. CS degree holders get higher starting offers at top companies (Google, Meta, Amazon) and pass more resume filters. Both paths hit the same median salary ceiling. The bootcamp wins on ROI; the degree wins on upside.
Trade / Vocational

Welder

Vocational school + AWS certification

Training cost
$8,000
Training time
6-18 months
Starting salary
$38,000
Median salary
$49,920
10-yr job growth
+3%
4-Year College

Business Administration

Bachelor's degree (BS/BA)

Avg net cost
$70,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$48,000
Median salary
$72,000
10-yr job growth
+7%
College wins on ROIBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~12 years. Business admin earns more over a career, but it takes 12 years to overcome the head start welding gives. Welding is the right call if you plan to own your own business.
Trade / Vocational

Commercial Pilot

FAA certifications + flight hours

Training cost
$90,000
Training time
2-4 years
Starting salary
$70,000
Median salary
$130,440
10-yr job growth
+6%
4-Year College

Aerospace Engineer

Bachelor's degree (BS)

Avg net cost
$85,000
Training time
4 years
Starting salary
$72,000
Median salary
$119,620
10-yr job growth
+6%
Trade wins on ROIBreak-even: college path surpasses trade in ~3 years. Commercial aviation pays more than aerospace engineering at the median, costs similar to train for, and you can start flying commercially faster. Airlines are actively hiring.

What the Data Actually Shows

Where trade school wins

  • - Faster break-even (1-3 years vs. 5-12 for college)
  • - Less debt at the start of your career
  • - Earn while you train in apprenticeship programs
  • - Licensed trades are recession-resistant (can't offshore a plumber)
  • - High demand: 500,000 trade job openings expected by 2028

Where college wins

  • - Higher salary ceiling in most fields (engineer vs. HVAC tech)
  • - Management and executive path is easier to access
  • - Some fields require a degree by law (engineering, accounting)
  • - CS and engineering degrees open doors bootcamps don't
  • - 30-year earnings gap can be $500K-$1M for high-paying majors
The honest answer: for 47% of college programs, the trade path delivers better lifetime ROI. For the right major at the right school, college still wins decisively. The mistake is choosing college by default without running the actual math.
Run Your Break-Even Calculation
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Full Trade vs. College Analysis
More context on the 47% figure and methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Is trade school better than college financially?

For many careers, yes. Trade school costs 70-90% less and you start earning 2-4 years sooner. The average electrician, plumber, or HVAC tech breaks even on their training investment within 1-2 years. The trade-off is a lower salary ceiling in most careers - college graduates tend to earn more over a 30-year career, but often not enough more to overcome the head start trades give.

How long does it take for a college degree to pay off vs trade school?

Depending on the career pair, college overtakes the trade path in 5-12 years. Engineering degrees beat trade paths in 8-10 years. For some comparisons (dental hygiene vs. nursing, bootcamp vs. CS degree), the lower-cost path never falls significantly behind.

What trades pay the most?

The highest-paying trades in 2026 are: elevator installer/repairer ($99,000 median), commercial pilot ($130,440), dental hygienist ($83,200), radiation therapist ($91,410), and electrician ($61,590). All require specialized licensing but no four-year degree.

Salary data: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-25 edition. Training costs are estimates based on national averages. College net prices are 4-year averages from College Scorecard data. All figures as of 2026.