Higher Education Vs. Trade School

Bob Beall • January 21, 2026


Hey it’s Bob, the master plumber, here and in today’s blog I want to talk about college vs. trade school/apprenticeship.


Why should I go to trade school or do an apprenticeship instead of college? 


Quick path to making money

If you know what you want to do, you can become an apprentice right out of high school and start making money in the field you want to pursue. You can become an apprentice in a variety of fields like plumbing, electrical, welding, operations and HVAC. It’s typical to make $35-55K in your first year. 


Why would college be the better option for me?


Unsure of your career path

If you don’t need to make an income and you aren’t sure what career you want to pursue, college will give you the opportunity to take courses in various fields and determine what aligns best with your goals. 


No matter what path you choose, pay attention to debt. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average college graduates with about $30K in debt. 


Sure, you will have debt going into trade school or the apprenticeship path, for things like tuition, books, uniforms, tools, etc., but it’s going to be on a much smaller scale and you will already be making income to help pay for those expenses. 


What are the differences between going to trade school for plumbing or doing a plumbing apprenticeship?


Trade school benefits include a more structured approach to plumbing and theory. If you want to gain foundational knowledge and learn in a traditional environment, this might be the right choice for you. Trade school cons are that tuition can be expensive and you aren’t guaranteed a job at the end of your studies. If you can’t find an apprenticeship, going to trade school is the best option.


The benefits of a plumbing apprenticeship are real world experiences immediately and paid on-the-job training. You can also work with a mentor that has vast expertise in the field and you will have a guaranteed job at the end of your time.


My best advice is to make the decision for yourself, don’t let others influence you. This is your life and your career. 


Where can I work as a plumber? 


Plumbing is about a lot more than fixing household issues like a clogged toilet or slow draining sink. Plumbers can work on wide-scale industrial projects in large factories or intricate systems in nuclear power plants. 


Plumbers manage hydronic heating systems, gas lines, process piping and more. The range of opportunities for those in the trades is enormous. 


You can make an impact in your community no matter what path you take or degree or certification you receive. If you are doing work that helps people, you are doing great work. 


If you liked this blog, subscribe to my YouTube, where I post videos on plumbing content and entrepreneurship.


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