College, trade school or work: choosing a path

You'll need

• Two or three jobs you might like
• A notebook or spreadsheet to compare options

What to know

1. Look up the jobs first. The Occupational Outlook Handbook covers what workers do, the education and training needed, pay and job outlook for more than 300 occupation profiles (BLS).
2. Note the entry-level education each job needs. Some need a degree, some a certificate or license, and some on-the-job training. You can browse the Handbook by entry-level education and on-the-job training (BLS).
3. Check apprenticeships. A Registered Apprenticeship is a paid job from day one with a mentor, classroom training, wage increases as your skills grow, and a nationally recognized credential (Apprenticeship.gov).
4. Compare schools and programs. College Scorecard shows costs, student debt, graduation rates and graduates' earnings, and lets you compare up to 10 colleges at once (College Scorecard).
5. File the FAFSA either way. Colleges and career schools both use it to decide your grants, work-study and loans (Federal Student Aid).
6. Write down, for each path: total cost, how long until you're earning, starting pay, and whether you'd enjoy the work. Then talk it over with someone who does that job.

If it doesn't work

• No idea what you want to do? Browse the Handbook by pay, entry-level education or projected growth, and write down anything that sounds interesting (BLS).
• Worried about cost? See Reading a financial aid offer and Apprenticeships.
• Picked a path and it isn't working? Each Handbook profile lists similar occupations, a good place to look for a nearby option (BLS).

Good to know