{
  "slug": "college-vs-trade-school-cost",
  "title": "College vs Trade School Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "College vs Trade School Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/college-vs-trade-school-cost",
  "summary": "Compare total cost and lifetime earning potential between a four-year college degree and trade school.",
  "description": "A four-year college degree typically costs more and takes longer to complete but can lead to higher-paying career paths in many fields, while trade school is faster and cheaper to complete and often leads to quicker entry into steady-paying skilled trades. This tool compares total cost (tuition plus lost income while studying) against projected early-career earnings for each path.",
  "formula": "Total Cost = Tuition + Fees + Lost Income during Years of Study. Net Position = Starting Salary × Years Working − Total Cost, compared at the same point in time.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=college-vs-trade-school-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "collegeTuitionTotal",
      "label": "Total college tuition + fees",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 80000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "collegeYears",
      "label": "Years to complete college",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 6
    },
    {
      "id": "collegeStartingSalary",
      "label": "College grad starting salary",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "tradeSchoolCostTotal",
      "label": "Total trade school cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 15000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "tradeYears",
      "label": "Years to complete trade program",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "tradeStartingSalary",
      "label": "Trade grad starting salary",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 48000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "compareAtYear",
      "label": "Compare net position at year",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 2,
      "max": 20
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "winner",
      "label": "Higher net financial position",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "collegeNet",
      "label": "College path net position",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "tradeNet",
      "label": "Trade school path net position",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "diff",
      "label": "Difference at comparison year",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total college tuition + fees: 80000 $",
      "Years to complete college: 4",
      "College grad starting salary: 55000 $",
      "Total trade school cost: 15000 $",
      "Years to complete trade program: 1",
      "Trade grad starting salary: 48000 $",
      "Compare net position at year: 10"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Higher net financial position: Trade School Path",
      "College path net position: $250,000",
      "Trade school path net position: $417,000",
      "Difference at comparison year: $167,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total college tuition + fees ($).",
      "Enter years to complete college.",
      "Enter college grad starting salary ($).",
      "Enter total trade school cost ($).",
      "Enter years to complete trade program.",
      "Enter trade grad starting salary ($).",
      "Enter compare net position at year.",
      "Read your higher net financial position on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "collegeTuitionTotal": 48000,
        "collegeYears": 2,
        "collegeStartingSalary": 33000,
        "tradeSchoolCostTotal": 9000,
        "tradeYears": 0.6,
        "tradeStartingSalary": 29000,
        "compareAtYear": 6
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "collegeTuitionTotal": 80000,
        "collegeYears": 4,
        "collegeStartingSalary": 55000,
        "tradeSchoolCostTotal": 15000,
        "tradeYears": 1,
        "tradeStartingSalary": 48000,
        "compareAtYear": 10
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "collegeTuitionTotal": 128000,
        "collegeYears": 6,
        "collegeStartingSalary": 88000,
        "tradeSchoolCostTotal": 24000,
        "tradeYears": 1.6,
        "tradeStartingSalary": 77000,
        "compareAtYear": 16
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does this include student loan interest?",
      "a": "No — add estimated loan interest to the tuition figure if you're financing either path, since interest can add substantially to the true total cost over a standard repayment term."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why does trade school often win in early years?",
      "a": "Trade school grads start earning years earlier and with far less debt, giving them a head start in savings and net worth that a college degree's typically higher salary takes years to overcome."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does salary growth rate matter here?",
      "a": "Yes significantly — this simple model uses flat starting salaries; in reality, career salary trajectories differ by field and should be modeled with growth rates for a more precise long-term comparison."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/community-college-vs-university-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — College vs Trade School Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/college-vs-trade-school-cost)"
}