What Types of Education Exist?

When you think about pursuing postsecondary education, you might think that four-year colleges are your only option. People might be asking you “Are you going to college?” However, there are actually many different types of postsecondary education.

Community College

Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges or two-year colleges, are low-cost public schools. They offer a variety of educational opportunities including a degree called an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) after you complete the required courses. They may also offer more specialized programs for specific jobs like nursing, carpentry, or electrical work. Different programs take different amounts of time to complete — if you go to school full-time, you can get an associate’s degree in about two years.

If you graduate from a community college and want to continue your education and get a bachelor’s degree, you can easily transfer to a four-year college. The four-year college will give you two years of credit for the coursework you have done, so that it should only take two additional years for you to get your bachelor’s degree.

Technical School

Like community colleges, you typically go to a technical school (sometimes called a vocational or trade school) for two years. The big difference is that a technical school usually only teaches you how to work in a specific field. For example, it might teach you specific skills you need to work in restaurants, hotels, fashion, the computer industry, or other fields. While community colleges and four-year colleges generally offer an education that introduces you to many different fields, technical schools are designed to prepare you for one field in which you can get a job.

On-the-Job Training

Technical school is one type of vocational training. Another type is “on-the-job training.” With on-the-job training, you get a job and are taught what you have to do by your employer. One common type of on-the job training is an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships provide a structured way to learn a skilled occupation, craft, or trade. The Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA) explains how to become an apprentice in Iowa. CareerOneStop also has information about apprenticeship programs.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

When most people think of “college,” they think of a school you go to full-time for four years or until you get a bachelor’s degree. At a college or university, you take a diverse set of classes that may teach you about many different things including history, languages, math, and sciences. Eventually you will choose a major, which is a focus that lets you specialize in a certain field and prepares you for working in that field after you graduate. If you study full-time, you may finish in four years, though some students take longer.

The Iowa Department of Education lists the Types of Colleges & Degrees available in Iowa and the Bureau of Iowa College Aid presents a video on What is College? Exploring What's Possible After High School.

Resources About Higher Education for Students with Disabilities

• Think College has important information for students, families, and professionals about how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can succeed in higher education.
• The National Center for College Students With Disabilities offers a variety of programs, including an online training center, an information clearinghouse and resource library, and a tip sheet on The Realities of College with a Disability.