Comparing Options After High School

The options for education and training after high school can be confusing. Here is a comparison of the most common routes for recent high school graduates.

Keep in mind that these routes are not permanent or exclusive, and choosing one route doesn't rule out other options if a student would like to pursue an additional or different path later.

Infographic: All information presented in graphic is repeated in article.

After high school education and training options.
	Workforce	Military	Short-Term Education	Apprenticeship	Public Four-Year College	Private Four-Year College
Description	Full-time employment directly after high school	Before or instead of pursuing a college education; Military academies	Short professional programs; Certificate programs; 9-month, one-year, two-year college programs	Up to six-year programs	Rely on government funding as well as tuition and fees from students	Rely on tuition, fees and private sources for funding
Average Cost	$100–$1,000	$0	$5,000–$25,000	$100-$1,000	$58,000–$100,000	$80,000–$150,000
Potential Earnings	Starting: $23,662; Mid-career: $34,380	Starting: $20,171; Mid-career: $59,774	Starting: $30,336; Mid-career: $45,504	Starting: $29,314; Mid-career: $39,594	Starting: $40,448; Mid-career: $60,671	Starting: $40,448; Mid-career: $60,671
Required	May need related job experience or certain skills	ASVAB test; Fitness and health standards; Background check	Requirements vary by program; Placement tests	Requirements vary by program; May be minimum age; May require community college acceptance	Minimum SAT/ACT score and GPA; Core high school classes; Application (sometimes with essay, interviews and letters of recommendation)	Minimum SAT/ACT score and GPA; Core high school classes; Application (sometimes with essay, interviews and letters of recommendation)
Typical Jobs	Accounting clerk' Animal caretakers; Childcare; Clerical, administrative, office clerk; Customer service representatives; Driver; Food services; Maintenance and janitorial; Retail worker	Administration; Aviation; Combat officer; Construction; Engineering; Health care; Intelligence; Mechanical and maintenance; Public affairs and media relations	Auto mechanic; Barber; Chef; Computer tech; Cosmetologist; Court reporter; Dental assistant; Fitness trainer; Nursing or home health aide; Pharmacy tech	Carpenter; Electrician; HVAC installation and repair; Machinist; Mason; Pipefitter; Plumber; Sheet metal worker; Tool and die worker	Airline pilot; Architect; Computer programmer; Educator; Engineer; Financial specialist; Graphic designer; Reporter or correspondent; Writer or editor	Airline pilot; Architect; Computer programmer; Educator; Engineer; Financial specialist; Graphic designer; Reporter or correspondent; Writer or editor

Sources:

Average Cost of Workforce includes the cost of work clothes, transportation to interviews and printing resumes.
Average Cost of Public and Private Four-Year College are based on the 2018–2019 net lowest and highest cost of attendance (after discounts on the published costs) per year multiplied by four years.
All other Average Cost information is based on figures available online for Iowa programs.
Potential Earnings for Workforce are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from U.S. Census Bureau 2017 PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment up to high school diploma.
Potential Earnings for Military are private (E1) and first lieutenant (O2) from https://www.goarmy.com.
Potential Earnings for Short-Term Education are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from U.S. Census Bureau 2017 PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment of associate degree.
Potential Earnings for Apprenticeship are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from U.S. Census Bureau 2017 PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment of some college.
Potential Earnings for Public and Private Four-Year College are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from U.S. Census Bureau 2017 PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment of bachelor's degree.