The Rise of Skill-Based Education: Why Students Are Ditching Tradition for Trade Schools and Bootcamps | Climb Credit

A number of years ago, going to college was generally considered the easiest (sometimes the only) way to land a well-paying job. For most people, it was the ultimate goal after graduating from high school. This belief has changed dramatically over the years, and trade and vocational schools are quickly becoming popular. Statistics indicate that while enrollment in four-year institutions and community colleges declines, enrollment at trade schools and bootcamps is steadily increasing. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, there was a 16 percent growth in enrollment in vocational-focused community colleges in 2023—the highest level since 2018.

Why Students Are Moving Away from Traditional College Degrees

The current preference for vocational training programs didn't just happen by accident—it's a result of several factors, including:

Increasing College Tuition Fees

In just 20 years (2005–2025), the cost of college has grown by 158 percent for public institutions and 132 percent for private ones. To afford a college education, most students go into enormous debt (if they qualify), which takes an average of 20 years to repay. Trade schools and tech bootcamps can offer a cost-effective alternative. For instance, the average federal student loan debt for college is $37,853, while for trade school it is about $10,000.

A Changing Job Market

A few years ago, many employers insisted on a college degree for employment. Today, things have changed. Over 50 percent of hiring managers say they've eliminated the need for a bachelor's degree for some of their roles. In fact, some of the biggest companies, like Delta Airlines, IBM, and Bank of America, no longer require you to have gone to college to apply and qualify for their open positions. With relevant skills, certifications, or hands-on experience, you can still get hired.

Mismatch between Academic Curricula and Employer Needs

Data shows that 50 percent of the time spent pursuing a bachelor's degree focuses on general education unrelated to a student's major. Additionally, most college programs teach broad theoretical knowledge instead of job-specific skills. As a result, students may leave school with a degree that doesn't align with real-world job demands. Trade schools, on the other hand, provide the hands-on training that employers desire in a much shorter period (about 2 years) than college degrees (usually four years).

How Climb Credit Can Help Access Career-Focused Training

Like most people, Luis Rocha thought that he needed a bachelor's degree to follow a certain career path. However, his journey is a testament that you can pursue your dream career without the need for a traditional bachelor's degree.

For a long time, Luis had always had an "innate instinct" for technology. While he'd always had an interest in learning tech, he didn't know how to get started. It was only after meeting a friend in tech that he decided to give it a shot. This led him to enroll in a bootcamp coding program, with financing from Climb Credit.

After the coding bootcamp, Luis secured a front-end developer job.

Without Climb, Luis admits that transitioning to coding wouldn't have been so seamless. He says that Climb's financing made it possible for him to afford to pay for the coding bootcamp. Additionally, Luis points out that "Climb does a really good job of informing you and being very transparent. The documentation is extremely easy to read, the online Portal is simple to use, and it gives me a good idea of where I'm at, how much I owe, what the payment is going to be, so it's probably one of the easiest payments to keep track of out of anything else I have on my plate."

Climb Credit recognizes that the biggest barrier to getting career training is often financing. They also believe that a four-year degree isn't the only way people can pursue their preferred career. That's why they partner with career-focused schools and bootcamps to provide the much-needed education loans to deserving students. If you are considering attending a career-training program, apply today and kick-start your career journey.

Luis is a client of Climb's. However, he was not paid or otherwise compensated for this testimonial. This testimonial reflects the real-life experiences and opinions of Luis; however, it should not be assumed that all users will have the same experiences. Individual results may vary.

Luis's testimonial appears verbatim as given by the user, except for the correction of grammar and typing errors. Some testimonials may have been shortened or rearranged for the sake of clarity.

Schools do not endorse loans originated by Climb Investco, LLC, and Climb Investco, LLC is not affiliated with any school. Climb Investco, LLC is the loan distributor, not Galvanize.

Climb encourages students to do thorough research in selecting a training program that meets their unique needs. Details provided by Climb are for information purposes only and are not meant to qualify an institution or be relied upon in determining which institution is right for you.