Trade Schools Present Opportunities For Retraining -- And Risks Of Huge Debt Burdens

A recent article in the Sacramento Bee -- http://tinyurl.com/d8hraz -- fairly considers key issues facing adults who are thinking of enrolling in any of the many trade schools promoting themselves in this harsh economy. These trade schools often appear to offer a faster path to a better-paying career than what may be available at community colleges and at colleges and universities. Enrollment at these schools is booming, as workers seek to retrain to compete for scarce jobs. But as the Sac Bee points out, the quality of these schools varies sharply, and many charge tuition substantially greater than what public colleges cost. "At a lot of these schools, the recruiters will emphasize financial aid," one official tells the Bee. "The problem is the aid is loans and students will graduate with a lot of debt." And at least one student knows from experience what the official is talking about: "I thought I was making my life better, and all it did was turn me upside down in debt."