After graduating from high school, a lot of people assume that going on to college is the only logical and responsible thing to do. We’re taught that a college degree is what’s required to land a well-paying, exciting career. Unfortunately, the massive student debt that comes along with higher education has become widely accepted as the norm. (Spoiler: there’s another option, and it’s called truck driving school).

To say that there is a student loan crisis happening across the United States is an understatement. In fact, according to Forbes, as of 2018, student loan debt is the second highest consumer debt category (behind only mortgage debt) and higher than both credit cards and auto loans.

If you find this statistic overwhelming, you’re not alone. The good news is that accumulating massive student debt and drowning in loans isn’t your only option after high school graduation. You also don’t need to spend four long years getting your college degree if that’s not the path you want to take.

There’s another way to achieving an exciting and rewarding career, and it begins with truck driving school. Not convinced yet? Explore the daunting statistics related to student debt, as well as information on the benefits of trucking schools. You may be surprised!

Who Does Student Debt Affect?

Student debt currently affects more than 44 million students in the United States (and rising). As of 2016, college students collectively owed $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, averaging approximately $37,172 per student. Wow!

Over the last several years, the cost of college has continued to increase significantly. When you combine that increase, along with a higher cost of living, attending college is more expensive than ever for students. Attending college is much more than simply paying for classes and books; it also involves paying for room and board for two-four years, meals, travel expenses, and much more. All of these factors contribute to students needing to take out more and more loans in order to survive during their college years.

Let’s break down student debt by the numbers by analyzing some powerful statistics, below.

Student Debt by The Numbers

Student loan debt continues to affect people across every state, year after year.

• California, Texas and Florida top the list for having the most student debt. California ranks first with more than $120 billion, Texas is second with $92 billion and Florida is third with $78 billion.
• More than 11% of students are 90+ delinquent on their student loans.
• The average monthly student loan payment is $350.
• 66% of students who attended public colleges in 2012 had loans, and 75% of students who attended private colleges did as well.
• Student loan debt per student rose from approximately $27,700 in 2011 to more than $37,000 as of 2016.

If the thought of accumulating such staggering debt scares you, there are other options. Attending college isn’t the only way to secure a meaningful career after high school. If you’re looking for a job where you’re able to make great money and receive competitive benefits, truck driving school is a wonderful option.

Consider Truck Driving School Instead of College

Truck driving school is a fantastic alternative to college for many reasons. At Truck Driver Institute, you don’t have to worry about navigating the process of enrolling in our program by yourself, either. Our experienced team of advisors will help you figure out what you need to attend our school, what will be required of you, and what to expect after you graduate.

Among the top benefits of trucking school are the inexpensive cost, the ability to get a job quicker than if you attended college, and the opportunity to land jobs with amazing benefits.

A Less Expensive Alternative to College

First, truck driving school is significantly less expensive than college. You can often attend trucking schools for the same cost as just one or two college classes! Additionally, at Truck Driving Institute, our student advisors can explain all the costs associated with our program, so you know what to expect before enrolling.

Our program costs approximately $200-$300 out of pocket, not including lodging costs. In addition, we also offer career education funding opportunities, and work with several carriers to offer tuition assistance programs.

Career Education Funding

Our Student Services Department is available to assist in coordinating and implementing the best funding option for you for our program. This includes working with you to secure several financial assistance options.

Employer Tuition Assistance

Many of the trucking companies we work with are willing to invest in your education through Tuition Assistance Programs, once hired after graduation. This incentive is above and beyond a very attractive pay package. Our team can let you know which carriers offer this benefit.

Get a Job Right After High School

Whether college isn’t in your budget, or you simply don’t want to spend any more time behind a desk in school, exploring local truck driving schools might make a lot of sense for you. We work with several of the top carriers to place students from our programs in jobs. In fact, we have a 90% job placement rate upon graduating TDI courses.

Truck driving school is ideal for people who don’t want to wait several years before they’re able to start working and making great money.

An Exciting Career with Amazing Benefits

At TDI, every student is pre-screened based on our employment partners requirements, ensuring that you qualify to work in the trucking industry. It’s important we set our students up for success as soon as they graduate.

Although we cannot guarantee specific salaries, our graduates generally average between $40,000/year up to $78,000/year in their jobs. Most of the carriers we work with also offer health insurance benefits, dental benefits, 401Ks and other retirement savings benefits.

Comparing the Cost of College vs. Truck Driving School

Let’s take a closer look at the cost of attending college vs. enrolling in a truck driving school.

Costs Associated with College

• College classes
• Travel expenses if you attend a school out of state
• Books
• Room and board
• Meal plans for 2-5 years
• Library fees
• Campus transportation
• Athletic facilities
• Course-specific fees (such as science lab fees)
• Dorm furnishings
• Electronics such as laptops, printers, etc.
• Health insurance (if you’re older than 26 and need health insurance for the 2-4 years you’ll be attending school)

Costs Associated with a Truck Driving School

• $200-$300 out of pocket program cost
• Travel expenses if you attend a school out of state
• Lodging costs (TDI partners with local hotels who will offer discounted rates)
• Meals for 3 weeks

Get Started with a Great Truck Driving School Today

Getting started with truck driving school is easier than ever. If you’re looking for an alternative to attending college, start exploring TDI’s local truck driving schools today with a few easy steps.

1. Schedule a campus visit with our Admissions team if you would like to see a school in person.
2. Fill out an application for the program.
3. Ask us about our incredible job placement assistance.
4. Talk with student services about tuition reimbursement programs.
5. Figure out how you’ll pay for the affordable out of pocket costs before the program starts.

Truck Driver Institute offers a comprehensive 3-week truck driving school that properly prepares students to pass their CDL test and get their Class A license upon graduation. The TDI team has trained tens of thousands of students for 46 years at multiple locations.

If you’re looking for a high-quality program with hands-on training and a great reputation, TDI can help.