Post-High School
Education and Training
Options
Paths to becoming highly
skilled and how to afford
You need skillz, yo!
Graduating high school is
important, but high school
graduates are not highly-skilled
individual or ready for
living-wage
jobs.
You need specialized training to
meet requirements for
high-wage/living-wage jobs.
Question: What is your plan for
becoming highly skilled?
NPR on College
– important
You have a few options…
2-year schools (associate’s
degrees/transfer degrees/certificates)
4-year schools (bachelor’s degrees)
For-profit private career schools
Master’s programs (after bachelor’s)
Doctoral programs and professional
studies (law, medicine, pharmacy,
physical therapy, etc.)
Apprenticeships
Internships
Military training
College Options
Universities (4-Year Schools)
•
AKA: Bachelor’s, BA, BS, Undergraduate
•
Include public and private universities
Community College (2-Year School)
•
Associate’s degrees
•
Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree
(AAOT)
•
ASOT – Business
•
Career Technical Certificates - 1 and 2
year programs for
2-Year Schools
Oregon has
17
community
colleges
•
CCC, Chemeketa, Linn-Benton, PCC,
and Mt. Hood are closest.
•
Not all CCs offer the same programs.
•
All are funded by the state
•
Uses Oregon
Pathways
(different
from national pathways) for career
technical training
•
They articulate programs with
Oregon high schools (
ACC
)
•
Cost per credit is lower than 4-year
schools
•
Oregonlive
article on Oregon’s community colle
ges
4-Year Schools
Public
•
Generally larger with larger class sizes
•
Less expensive than private schools
•
No religious affiliations
•
OUS schools: U of O, OSU, WOU, SOU, EOU, OIT, PSU, OHSU
Private
•
No state funding
•
More expensive, but give out more in scholarship.
•
Generally smaller with smaller class sizes
•
Many have religious affiliations or formerly did
•
In Oregon: Linfield, Willamette, Corbin, U of P, Pacific, George
About 4-year schools
Entrance requirements vary from school to school
•
PSU, OSU and
U of O
: 3.0 GPA, earn C- or better in core classes, SAT, 2
years second language, algebra 2
Some schools require students to live on-campus for first
year
May have to declare major in freshman or soph. year and
apply to the specific school (ex:
school of business
)
Beyond 4 Years
NOTE: Not all schools offer the same
programs. Ex:
OSU
only school to offer
Doctorate program in Pharmacology. U of O
has a architecture program
Master’s Degree
• Offered by 4 year schools, not Community Colleges • Can vary between 1 and 3 years
• May be required for employment in certain careers
(college professor, counseling/therapy, business executives)
• In other careers, a Master’s degree gives you a
competitive advantage (social work, engineering, sciences)
Doctorate or Professional Degree
• Masters degree is not required to earn a doctorate • Doctorate also called Ph.D.
• Professional degrees in Law, Medicine, Pharmacy,
Apprenticeships
More than 50 apprenticeable occupations in
Oregon.
•Examples: carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC,
facilities maintenance, welding, etc.
Include on the job training and classroom
instruction.
Union vs. Non-Union.
Usually start at half the salary of journey workers,
with regular pay increases as you learn. Start at
~$15/hr. Journeymen earn ~$30-40/hr.
Typically last 2-5 years depending on the industry.
Very competitive. Must wait for openings to apply.
High school diploma required, with science and
math background recommended.
More info at
Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division
OR
Private Career Schools
Oregon has many private career schools Programs include:
• Tattoo • Culinary
• Cosmetology
• Real Estate
• Massage Therapy
• Billing/Bookkeeping
• Medical and Dental Assistant • Truck Driving
Tips on choosing a school from Oregon.gov also see Careers Magazine Ask employers if they’ve hired from these programs
Is the program accredited? Check the state website. Understand total program costs
Number of Grads from PCSs 2009
Rank Program Type Graduates
1 Insurance 3,157
2 Real Estate 2,170
3 Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operation 936
4 Banking and Financial Support Services 883
5 Taxation 525
6 Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other 466
7 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other 397
8 Selling Skills and Sales Operations 376
9 Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage 358
10 Bartending/Bartender 302
11 Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician 287
12 Herbalism/Herbalist 274
13 Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design 232
14 Medical/Clinical Assistant 223
15 Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist 220
16 Phlebotomy/Phlebotomist 206
17 Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist 183
18 Security and Loss Prevention Services 174
19 Aromatherapy 146
Internships
Internships often coincide with school programs. Ex:
college + internship. Some come after schooling. Can vary in length.
Not degree based.
Similar to apprenticeship, but often geared towards
“white-collar” jobs.
Internships exist for high school students all the way
to post-graduate adults.
Often unpaid. You gain experience, the employer
receives free labor.
Many interns find permanent, paid employment with
the companies in which they interned.
Marketplace.org article on the importance of
Military Training
All military branches (Navy, Army, Coast
Guard, Marines, and Air Force) provide job
training transferable to other jobs/careers
after exiting the military.
Training in 150 different job areas in the
Army alone.
Includes: healthcare, mechanics, human
resources, engineering, technology, law
enforcement, etc.
Active service members and veterans can
qualify for money for tuition, housing,
relocation, books and supplies. (
GI Bill
) Also:
ROTC programs
Military veterans get preferential
consideration when entering the workforce.
Army’s
Career Page
OR
On The Job Training
Most careers involve on-the-job training
Many jobs don’t require specialized training before applying
Jobs for unskilled workers often pay low wages
Examples of jobs that may have minimal education
requirements:
•
Laborers/Construction workers
•Landscapers
•
Receptionists
•Tile Setters
•Health Aides
•
Call Center Specialist
•Retail Clerk
Online and Distance Learning
Many schools today offer online
classes or “distance learning”
Some schools are only online.
Require you to:
•
work independently, manage time well
•
submit work online
•
interact with peers/teachers via virtual
classrooms
Beware of “diploma mills” or
School Costs
Costs include:
• Tuition
• Room and Board (food and housing) • Books
• Fees
Out-of-state vs. In-state costs. Out of state
students pay more.
Use a school’s Net Price Calculator to approximate
how much it will cost to attend
69% of seniors in 2014 had student loan debt with
an average of $28,950 per borrower. (Institute of
College Access and Success)
Median student loan debt is $13,000 (Brookings
Costs and Student Test Scores at 4 Year
Schools
School
percentile
SAT – 25
thpercentile
SAT – 75
thEstimated
Cost
2015-16
U of O
990
1230
$25,167
OSU
980
1230
$26,316
PSU
900
1160
$24,732
Western Oregon
850
1180
$23,397
Southern
Oregon
910
1130
$24,294
Willamette Univ.
1080
1320
$59,096
Linfield College
960
1200
$52,154
George Fox
Univ.
960
1210
$45,938
Univ. of Portland
1080
1310
$54,882
Pacific
University
980
1200
$54,036
Reed College
1290
1480
$64,340
Costs shown include full time tuition, fees, and average room and board.
Costs at Community
Colleges
College
Cost
Clackamas CC
$16,269
Portland CC
$17,420
Mount Hood CC
$16,254
Chemeketa CC
$16,602
Lane CC
$16,828
Linn-Benton CC
$16, 752
Costs shown include full time tuition, fees, estimated living expenses, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Actual budgets may vary.
Source: Colleges as reported to OSAC, July 2015.
Costs at Private Career Schools
School
Tuition
Oregon Culinary Inst.– Culinary Arts Diploma (32 wks.)
$17,325
Aveda Inst. – Cosmetology Program (~17 mo./2300
hrs.)
$20,700
Paul Mitchell the School – Hair Design (1600 hours)
$14,725
East West College – Massage Therapy (800 hours)
$16,000
IITR Truck Driving School - CDL Program A (160 hrs.)
$4,700
Art Inst. of Portland – Apparel Design (AA degree, 66
wks.)
$45,000
Art Inst. of Portland – Media Arts/Animation (BFA, 132
Paying for College
Loans
• Private (banks)
• Public (federal gov’t) – lower interest
Grants
• Oregon Promise (pays for Community
College)
• Federal Pell Grants (up to $5,775/year) • Oregon Opportunity Grant ($2,100)
Work Study
• Federally supported job opportunity on or
near campus
Scholarships
• School-based (directly from the college) • Private. Includes businesses, social
organizations, memorial funds, unions, etc.
• Local scholarships give you better odds • OSAC scholarship application
Money Saving Strategies
Loan forgiveness programs
(teaching, nursing, non-profit work)
Work for employers that will pay
your college costs
Working through college
Gather cheap credits before hitting
campus:
•
AP
•
Advanced College Credit
College Saving Plans
529 Plans for College
Savings
•
You have options for how this
money is invested
(conservatively to
aggressively)
FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid
Determines eligibility for grants, loans,
work study
Requires info about financial assets,
liabilities and income of your family.
Fill your first out in January of your
senior year and must be completed
every year of college
Fafsa4caster.ed.gov is a online aid
calculator
http://studentaid.ed.gov/ Government
Scholarships
Money for school that doesn’t need to be
repaid.
Scholarships awarded on a yearly basis.
Not guaranteed all 4 years. GPA
requirements for renewal.
Can be offered by the school or by outside
organizations (companies, service groups,
individuals, non-profit groups, etc.)
Award amounts vary widely. $250 and up.
Local scholarships give you better odds.
Scholarship “season runs approximately
from December to April every year.
Often require: application, essay,
transcript, resume-like chart,
recommendations
Studentaid.gov
Choosing the right Post-High School
Training Program
Factors to consider
•
Types of programs and majors (consider reputation/competitiveness)
•Reputation for quality – employers, students
•
Cost
•
Location – rural vs. urban, area of country
•Size – both overall size and class size
•
Extra-curricular activities
•
Religious/political/social leanings
•Liberal arts vs. specialized
•
Job placement rate – what % of graduates get hired?
•Campus atmosphere and beauty
•
Student demographics (diversity)
•Housing options
•
Teaching methods/types of learning experiences. Ex:
Use the decision making process
1. Define the problem
- what is important to you in a school? Determine priorities.
2. Gather information
- research online, visit campuses, talk to school representatives
and students, friends and family, attend college fairs
3. Compare alternatives
- compare pros/cons of 3 or 4 options. Make a checklist!
4. Make a decision
- make a choice based on your analysis of alternatives
5. Take action
http://www.fastweb.com/
https://www.petersons.com/
http://
colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.
com/best-colleges
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
