Find your college. Plan your path.
Click a state to explore colleges and compare costs.
Click any state to explore colleges
Latest guides & reviews
BITS Pilani Practice School: questions to settle before planning a workplace assignment
Oct 27
San Jose State University: check aid renewal before planning the next year of college
Oct 27
Montgomery College: bring your earlier coursework into a useful return-to-college advising meeting
Oct 27
Portland Community College: budget for the full transfer route and a possible delayed term
Oct 27
University of Houston: compare a change of major before committing to a new course sequence
Oct 27
Explore your options
College & career tips, once a month. No spam.
We never sell your email.
Median Salaries by Career Path (BLS May 2024)
$93,600
Registered Nurse
ADN (2 years)
$65,280
Electrician
Apprenticeship (4 years)
$57,300
HVAC Technician
Certificate (6-24 months)
$51,000
Welder
Certificate (6-18 months)
$43,460
Cosmetologist
License (9-24 months)
$132,270
Software Developer
Bachelor's (4 years)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
College vs. Trade School — Which Pays Off Faster?
Enter your ZIP code and compare tuition, time-to-career, and earning potential for schools near you.
Popular College Guides
How GradeToGrad Helps You Choose the Right School
GradeToGrad helps students compare 6,429 colleges and trade schools using real data from the College Scorecard and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every school profile includes tuition costs, graduation rates, and career earnings — whether you're researching nursing programs, welding certifications, cosmetology schools, or four-year universities.
Use our Pathway Comparison Calculator to compare colleges and trade schools near you side by side — see tuition, time-to-career, and salary outcomes in one view. Our state-by-state guides cover nursing schools, community colleges, welding programs, HVAC training, and cosmetology schools in all 50 states, with BLS salary data so you can see exactly what each career path pays before you enroll.