Education after graduating from high school is called post-secondary education. Anyone who graduates from high school and reaches a state university level of studies is said to be doing post-secondary education. After high-school, many students pursue either a college degree or a vocational certification, online certification, apprenticeship, etc. as post-secondary education. It is extremely important to undergo this level of education to gain knowledge in this globalized world.

Importance of Postsecondary Education
There are many state laws that mandate students to be in school till age 16. In high school, they learn useful skills like math, language, and interpersonal communication which are essential life skills. Though many students prefer to join the workforce after high school, students must think about getting postsecondary education as it can help them prepare to become competent professionals. It teaches new skills and makes them more knowledgeable in their field of interest.

Though there are many success stories of people who did not complete postsecondary education, the chances are less as you need to have many other attributes to become successful. Moreover, postsecondary degrees or certification is now a necessity to apply for white or blue collar jobs. If you stay unskilled, you are more likely to end up being jobless or get paid low-wages. As per a recent labor statistic, a person who had only a high school diploma earned a weekly salary of around $ 700 whereas the person with a college degree earned $1,170 per week.

Options for Postsecondary Education
Community Colleges:Postsecondary education can be done in community colleges which gives a two-year degree, some also offer bachelor’s degrees.
Colleges: Private as well as public colleges is another place where you can get a degree in postsecondary education. They award students with bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees at grad and undergrad level. They are different from universities as they are smaller in size and have fewer program options.
Universities: Like colleges, the degrees they award are masters, bachelors or doctoral. They are usually 4-year programs at grad and undergrad level.
Trade Schools: These are schools that are specialized in training students on a specific trade which can be technical or nontechnical. Some examples are beauty schools, culinary schools, nursing, mechanical etc. These schools award certifications and also provide licenses and exams.

Public Vs. Private schools:
There is a debate on which is better, but both have pros and cons and one is chosen over the other based on what suits you. Here are some differences
Tuition fee:
Public schools: These schools get assistance from the government and thus cost less when compared to private schools. They also offer scholarships and work-study options if you have good grades.
Private: They cost students especially if you are unable to get any grants or scholarships. The upside is, it is easier to get into a private college or university than a public one.

Pride:
Public schools: Is not highly recognized though the education provided is good.
Private school: Is considered more prestigious to join a private school.
More Focus
Public schools tend to have a lot of students and thus teachers cannot spend enough time with the students.
Private schools ensure that they provide one-on-one time to the students helping them get better at academics.

With the amount of competition today, postsecondary education is becoming more of a necessity rather than a luxury.