HIGHER EDUCATION 2023
SPECIAL SECTION
demand for quality educators remains high . Teachers can choose to teach in person or online , depending on the type of school and the subject .
Trade and Technical Schools
Trade school enrollment continues to increase since the early 2000s , but a steep decline in vocational education in the 1980s and ‘ 90s led to a shortage of skilled workers across the nation . The ongoing need for these critical workers has meant an increase in wages and jobs , encouraging students and parents to see past an old stigma of choosing vocational school over college . Plus , over the past 30 years , the cost to attend a four-year college has increased by about 200 percent , leaving some students wanting to avoid the hefty price tag of a four-year degree .
Following are some of the highest-paying trades or vocations available , according to Indeed . com : n Licensed Practical Nurse ( LPN ) – Working under the direction of doctors and registered nurses , LPNs are responsible for updating patient charts and keeping doctors and nurses upto-date on patient health changes . LPNs work long shifts and can work in a hospital , outpatient facility , nursing home , or other caregiving facility . n HVAC Technician – Installing , repairing , replacing , and maintaining systems are all part of an HVAC tech ’ s role . Heating , ventilation , refrigeration , and air-conditioning systems are required to properly maintain workplaces , hospitals , and homes , among other buildings . n Home Inspector – Ensuring the safety of a home or building is the main job of home inspectors . They are required to be familiar with all types of systems that are in a home including heating , electrical , plumbing , and the overall structure . Being a home inspector requires you to be physically fit and capable of climbing ladders and crawling through small spaces . n Plumber – Not only responsible for installing appliances and unclogging toilets and drains , plumbers often install and repair gas supply lines as well . It ’ s critical to understand the flow of these systems and to problem-solve and troubleshoot when issues arise within them . n Electrician – Training to become an electrician takes about as long as it takes to get a bachelor ’ s degree and a license , but this job training pays for itself along the way . If reading blueprints and installing or repairing wires and other electrical components interests you , this career might be electrifying !
n Landscape Designer – If you enjoy the outdoors and gardening , look into the work of landscape designers . These professionals offer plans on designing outdoor spaces for residential and commercial settings that consider environmental challenges , features that are meant to be emphasized , and overall aesthetics . n Respiratory Therapist – Respiratory therapists work with patients who have breathing difficulties , and may aid in emergency situations such as drowning , heart attack , or shock . They assess patients ’ respiratory needs and make sure they ’ re receiving proper care and treatment . n Dental Hygienist – Smile ! Your career could be in making teeth brighter . Dental hygienists work to clean teeth , take x-rays , and educate patients on oral health . They are also ranked among the most satisfied workers . You ’ ll need an associate degree to pursue this career . n Ultrasonographer – After obtaining an associate degree , sonographers go on to prepare patients for procedures , review and process images for physicians , and administer ultrasounds . They are also responsible for operating imaging equipment .
Types of Educational Loans
Getting accepted into a college or university is one of the most exciting times of a student ’ s life and is the first step in shaping a variety of careers . Many institutions offer myriad grants or scholarships to assist with the cost of postsecondary education , but often these are not enough . Student loans provide financial assistance for students to cover the fees associated with attending a college or career school , including tuition , supplies , books , and living expenses .
There are several types of loans available including need-based , non-need-based , state , and private .
Need-based loans are provided to students who are unable to pay the amount needed to cover all costs to attend college . Need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ), which can be completed online at no cost . Need-based loans are available as a Federal Perkins Loan , awarded to students with the highest need , or a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan , provided interest-free while in college .
If the FAFSA determines that a student is ineligible for a need-based loan , non-need-based loan options are available as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Federal Direct PLUS Loan . Unsubsidized loans allow the borrower to add interest to the total amount borrowed after graduation , but beware : this leads to owing even more money when it comes time to start paying off the loan . Direct PLUS Loans provide graduate students or parents the opportunity to borrow the total cost of attending college , minus other financial aid received .
Unlike the loans mentioned above that are sponsored by the federal government , state and private loans are sponsored by banks , colleges , foundations , and state agencies . The U . S . Department of Education manages all college loans available by state and requires students to be in-state residents or enrolled in a college in that state . Private loans are an option for borrowers but come with terms and conditions that may not be as favorable as federal loans . Private loans also require a cosigner who is responsible for repaying the money if the student fails to do so .
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