Enrolling in technical education offers high school students a competitive edge in securing employment
opportunities. Earning a technical education certificate in high school may lead to a livable wage
immediately after graduation. The role of technical education enrollment in high school in earning
certificates and postsecondary enrollment is explored using data from the Utah System of Higher
Education. Most students enroll in at least one technical education course, but few earn certificates in
high school.
Findings
- Students enrolled in technical education at degree-granting institutions trended upward.
- Students enrolling at a technical college trended downward.
- The highest geographic proportion of secondary students enrolling in technical education (62%)
was in the suburbs. - Most certificates earned while in high school are earned through the technical colleges (86%).
- Most high school certificates were one-year awards (84%).
- Most high school students enrolled in technical education courses enrolled in degree-granting
institutions (61%). - High school students who lived within 40 miles of a degree-granting institution were the most
likely to seek postsecondary education.