Are four-year colleges and universities losing their luster when it comes to job preparation?
According to the 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook, eight out of the 20 fastest growing professions require less than a four-year degree. Education experts have widely differing opinions on what kind of education will be needed to compete in the future economy. But most agree that changes must happen to cut wasted time and money in college courses that are either repetitive or not sharpening a student's marketable skill set.
So, is it still worth your time and money to go to a four-year institution, or is choosing a vocational or technical ("votech") school a better option where skills are emphasized over liberal arts? And even if a votech school might prepare you with more specific skills, will you still benefit by sporting the B.A. stamp of approval?
Trade Schools: What They Can Offer
"Everybody going into the workforce today needs some sort of training," says Mary Barry, senior vice president of academic affairs at Kaplan University, "and what a lot of people want now is to get in the workforce as soon as possible."
Kaplan University is unusual because it offers vocational training as well as opportunities to complete a bachelor's degree. However, 80 percent of their campuses are considered votech, where students earn primarily two-year degrees that emphasize technical skills. They also boast an 82 percent workforce placement rate -- and many of that remaining 18 percent decide to go on with school. Few, according to Barry, have trouble finding employment in their field with the degree they earned.
"Some of the best instruction is occurring at community colleges and vocational and technical colleges," says Marc Sheer, author of "No Sucker Left Behind: Avoiding the Great College Rip-Off."
Sheer believes that the community college and votech model can be quite beneficial to students because, generally, they offer very focused coursework where students learn solid skills. "If you're going to spend money and not work [while in school], you should focus on skills you need to learn."
Plus, according to Barry, when it comes to general respect for votech education, "Many, many more people are seeing the value of both [two-year and four-year degrees]." And this is changing how employers view graduates with votech schools. "When you put students out there and they perform well, that has to get you the respect."
The Other Side of the Coin: The Future of Four-Year Schools
"I don't see a lot of change, to be honest," says Robert Zemsky, chair of The Learning Alliance at the University of Pennsylvania, when asked if trade schools are becoming more respected. "Change doesn't happen very rapidly in higher education."
Despite this view, Mr. Zemsky has written a book, "Transforming American Higher Education," which outlines a plan to change many of the inefficiencies of traditional universities -- inefficiencies that students usually avoid when choosing a two-year degree option.
Zemsky calls for universities to convert to three-year baccalaureate degrees that are more group-based and offer courses in a prescribed sequence. This model would theoretically ensure that its students build on prior knowledge, reducing time spent in foundational courses that aren't as challenging or relevant to a student's career. Zemsky believes doing this would strengthen the major, while still ensuring the well-roundedness so valued in a university education.
But would this lead to more skill-based courses at universities too? Not necessarily. Zemsky envisions that vocational training would begin to take place more at the master's degree level.
Zemsky notes, "A lot of [vocational degrees] are in manufacturing jobs. We're moving to a service and health economy ... [therefore] more students already plan on getting a master's."
So, in the end, Zemsky's model would extend post-high school education -- bachelor's degree plus master's -- to ensure that students are properly trained for the future workforce.
Who's Right? How Do You Choose?
Choosing your route for higher education is a difficult decision. "It's still engrained in many HR departments that you have to have a four-year degree," reminds Sheer. "[Choosing a two-year degree] might require more work in getting respect from employers."
Sheer says the critical point to choose between a votech school or university is going to be your marketability within the workforce, and finding that out requires a bit of research on your part.
"Very carefully consider cost and benefits -- time, cost, debt and what your employment prospects are going to be like when you finish," advises Sheer. "You want to find out what employers think. Call some companies, search job listings to see what degree is required. And sometimes experience might be better than education."
A Closer Look: Below is a comparison of annual salaries for two-year versus four-year degree holders in certain careers.
Job / Associate's / Bachelor's / Pay Difference
Graphic designer, Web: $45,136 - $47,709 - $2,573
Computer/network support technician: $44,237 - $44,462 - $225
Accountant: $43,443 - $49,708 - $6,265
Auto service technician/mechanic: $41,491 - $41,491 - $0
Account executive: $55,077 - $61,462 - $6,385
Source: Salary data from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median annual salaries for full-time employees with 5-8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing.
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