This is used to describe any type of education occurring after high school/secondary school. While post-secondary education isn’t mandatory, it offers added advantages because it helps students get additional education and develop various skills, which may increase their chances of securing higher-level employment. Students should also consider the salary difference. A significant percentage of high school graduates choose to receive post-secondary education because the mean annual salary of a college graduate is far better than that of a high school graduate.

Students planning to receive post-secondary education can choose from different types of post-secondary education institutions.

Colleges and universities: These are the two most sought-after choices for post-secondary education. Some students attend post-secondary education institutions, such as business schools and graduate schools, to earn a master’s degree that gives them a leg-up in the competitive job market. While colleges and universities are usually the most expensive forms of post-secondary education, several grants and scholarship programs are available that can help ease students’ financial burden.

Community colleges: By attending community colleges, students can earn an associate degree after two years. Some community colleges also offer vocational courses and non-degree certificates. Apart from academic classes, these colleges offer various programs for the community. It’s important to understand that community colleges take just two years to award an associate degree because they only offer general education courses that all college students must take. In four-year colleges and universities, students spend the first two years meeting the general education requirements and the next two years taking specialized classes depending on their majors.

Vocational schools: These schools teach students the technical sides of certain skills or crafts of a particular job. Unlike colleges that provide students with academic training to pursue careers in specific professional disciplines, vocational schools provide job-specific training where certain skills are prioritized over academic learning. While there’re many different types of vocational courses available, not all vocational schools provide all kinds of vocational courses. By completing any of these courses, a student receives a certificate that demonstrates they are trained for the skill of their choice. Students may also earn multiple certificates for multiple courses if they think it’ll give them a further advantage.

Apart from these, some students may choose to receive non-degree post-secondary education. Non-degree students are individuals who may be interested in learning a certain field and want to pursue academic interests but don’t want to earn a degree. By completing such a program, students can earn a certificate of completion instead of an associate’s degree.