Vocations · Trades & Technical

Three ways into a trade.
Put them side by side.

Enter what each program costs, what aid and training pay come with it and what the work pays after. The page shows net cost, months to earn it back and a rough three-year picture, next to a checklist of what to confirm before you sign.

Open the comparisonWhat you get

The comparison

The worked example compares three made-up routes into HVAC work. Replace them with the programs you are looking at; everything saves in this browser.

Loading the comparison. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Vocations · Trades & TechnicalFreeStudent and family versions

What you finish with
A side-by-side comparison of up to four programs with net cost, pay while training, months to earn the cost back and a rough three-year money picture, plus a checklist and the questions to ask each school, ready to print.
Who it is for
High school students and adults choosing a trade or technical program, and the parents and family members helping them decide. Counselors can use it in a meeting.
Format
Browser tool in four steps: programs, checklist, comparison with a chart, and questions to ask (student and family versions). Prints the comparison; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv) and a file you can import later.
Access
Free. No account or sign-in. It runs in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Everything you type stays in this browser and is saved there as you go; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Trades & Technical space in Caveat Vocations.
Support
Questions, a correction or a request: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Load the worked example to see how three HVAC routes compare, or start blank.
  2. Enter what you earn now, then add each program: length, every cost, grants, pay while training and the pay you expect after.
  3. On the checklist, mark yes, no or not sure for each program. Every not sure is a question to ask.
  4. Read the comparison and the notes under the chart. Try the 5-year window for longer programs.
  5. Print it, take the questions to each school, and talk it through with your family or counselor.

Open the comparison

How the comparison is worked out

Simple arithmetic, shown so you can check it.

The numbers

Net cost is every cost minus grants, scholarships and what an employer or union pays. Loans are not subtracted: borrowed money is still your cost, plus interest. Pay while training is the hourly rate times hours times 52 weeks over 12 months, for the months you are in the program. Months to earn back divides what you are out of pocket by how much more you would earn each month than you do now.

The money picture adds pay while training and pay after finishing over the window, subtracts the net cost and compares that with keeping your current pay. It leaves out taxes, raises, interest, living costs and the chance of not finishing, so use it to compare programs, not to plan a budget.

Getting numbers you can trust

For pay, use the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and its state wage data, and local job postings, alongside what the school says. For programs that take federal aid, the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard shows costs, completion and earnings. Registered apprenticeships are listed on Apprenticeship.gov. Ask any school how it counts a graduate as placed: some count any job, not a job in the trade.

Licensing rules for trades differ from state to state; check with your state's licensing board.

Sources

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; bls.gov. Pay, training paths and job outlook by occupation.
  2. U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) and the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
  3. U.S. Department of Labor. Apprenticeship.gov: registered apprenticeship, finding programs, earn-while-you-learn wages.
  4. Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education (studentaid.gov). Which schools can offer federal grants and loans, and how loans are repaid.

The example programs and numbers are made up. This page does not rate or recommend any school, and it does not describe any state's licensing rules. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.