Have a look at these numbers…[1]
- 158%: The cost of traditional, public college has risen over 150% in just the last 20 years.
- 65%: Only 64.6% of students graduated college within six years.
- 50%: Half of a traditional college student’s study-time is in general education, not their “career” major or focus.
- 33%: One in three companies have dropped degree requirements in job postings.
- 20 Years: The average student loan takes two decades to pay off.
- 24%: Salaries for some skilled trades have risen well over 20% in just a year.
- 33%: Trade school, for example, costs about a third of traditional college.
- 18%: Enrollment in trade programs grew 17.6% over last fall.[2]
It’s no secret. Today’s recent high school graduates (and non-degree holding adults) are turning to the trades as an alternative to traditional higher education. And the data above shows why. For many, college has become too expensive, takes too long and often leaves students with decades of debt.
But…
In the past year alone, enrollment in trade programs (compared to last fall) has grown by well over 17%. This, as more prospective students realize the benefits associated with “blue collar” jobs training.
As a result of these shifting attitudes, trade schools that are properly marketing their programs have been experiencing a renaissance.
Cliff Whittingstall, the Managing Senior Principal at the architecture and engineering firm PBK recently told Forbes, “The perception of trade schools has undergone a significant transformation. Today, trade schools are no longer seen as less prestigious, limiting, or associated with ‘dirty’ work. Instead, they are recognized as essential gateways to rewarding, in-demand careers.
“While previous generations pushed for a four-year university education, today people recognize that other viable career paths don’t come with the burden of student debt.”[3]
But even though trade schools, vocational schools and career-based colleges have been on the winning side of the blue collar renaissance, the numbers have not gone unnoticed by traditional four-year schools.
In fact, the shift towards career training (and a more direct pathway to good paying work with far less debt) has become so obvious, that many colleges and universities are now offering career-based programs.
This, unfortunately, means more competition for trade and career-based schools. And this new competition is coming into the game with big marketing budgets and well known “brands.”
However, even as more big-budget institutions enter the career-based education game, Conversion Media Group believes your career-based school can still compete with them…
And it can reach, or even potentially exceed your enrollment goals.
Now, this may sound simple, and for you it really is…
Partnering with Conversion Media Group can make a big difference.
You see, CMG is a national leader in helping career colleges, trade schools and Vo-Tech attract and enroll new students. It’s our expertise.
Every week we speak, physically on the phone, with hundreds, sometimes thousands of prospective students who are highly interested in not only furthering their education but doing it in a manner that won’t leave them with $100k and 20 years of student loan debt.
They want an education that can lead directly to a good paying job. And if you’re operating a career-based school, that means they’re interested in you!
And this is where getting new student prospects to talk with your enrollment department becomes simple. See, while CMG does a whole lot of legwork to generate and nurture leads (we can share our extensive processes on a call with you) …
We can hand these leads off directly to your enrollment department the moment they show genuine interest in your programs. And we can hand them off to you while we have them on the phone.
Or, more simply put, we do the hard work of finding prospective students for you… and you enroll them.
Of course, on our end, it’s a bit more complicated. But for you, it’s not. So, give us a call today at +1 800 419 3201 and we’ll explain exactly how we can help.
Or you can contact us HERE and one of our enrollment experts will get back with you ASAP.
Remember, just because large institutions with large budgets are getting into the career-based education game, doesn’t mean you can’t still win.
[1] 8 Reasons Why Students Are Choosing Career-Based Educations Over Traditional College – And How Your School Can Attract More of Them! – CMG (conversionmediagroup.com)
[2] Why More Academic Institutions Are Now Betting On The Trades (forbes.com)
[3] Why More Academic Institutions Are Now Betting On The Trades (forbes.com)