Is studying vocational training in the US a good path?

1 - Easy entrance exam conditions

To be able to study in the US, you only need to meet a number of requirements such as high school graduation, sufficient financial ability for the first year of study in the US, and having an English certificate of 5.5 IELTS. Compared to studying abroad at the university level, vocational training abroad requires lower conditions.

For example, you have to write a personal essay, a supplementary essay, or a letter of recommendation from a teacher who has taught directly at the school (for college/university students)... to be eligible to apply for undergraduate study.

International students need to prove financial conditions to enroll in the U.S.

2 - Short and flexible training period

While college or university programs in the US usually take a minimum of 4 years, vocational training in the US only takes from 6 months to 2 years depending on the industry and training program. Therefore, students will save more time and can graduate and find jobs earlier than students under the university training system.

In addition, students have the option to register for a class schedule that suits them. You can choose to study in the morning, evening, or even on weekends. From there, you can completely actively arrange your daily time and work to have the most suitable timetable.

3 - Practical training program

Young people studying university and college programs in the US often spend a lot of time researching theoretical issues, going to internships, and well as career orientation after graduation.

However, when you study abroad in the US, you not only receive a vocational training certificate but also train and practice practical skills as well as a clear career orientation from the beginning of school.

4 - Modern facilities

The system of facilities is one of the important factors that determine the quality of teaching of any educational program. When choosing vocational schools in the US, young people will be able to study in an environment with modern facilities and techniques for the process of theoretical learning as well as research and practice.

5 – The cost of studying abroad is more affordable

The cost of training at vocational schools in the US is only about 4000 - 9000 USD/year. Because the duration of vocational study abroad in the U.S. is shorter than that of regular study abroad programs, students can save more money. The money that can be saved includes not only tuition fees, but also living expenses, accommodation, and other incidental fees.

Especially, for international students who attend vocational training schools in large states or centers with expensive living costs such as New York, Washington, California, Florida,... Choosing a short-term study abroad program will help you be more comfortable with financial matters.

6 - Higher job opportunities after graduation

During the apprenticeship, students will undergo a highly practical training program. Many vocational schools in the U.S. offer international students the opportunity to work in the form of professional internships. Internships are an ideal environment where you can work and learn skills on the job.

The internship process will provide you with many benefits such as having real-world experience in your field of interest, creating opportunities to network with industry professionals, finding out if your chosen career is a good fit, and identifying any skill gaps you may need to improve.

Therefore, studying in the US is an advantage for young people to help them find suitable and stable job quickly after graduating.

7 – Have the opportunity to transfer to University

Studying in the U.S. opens up many opportunities for students to have a better job in the future than domestic training programs. However, there are many young people who want to study abroad at American universities but do not have enough financial conditions, education, or necessary documents.

Therefore, you can completely choose to go for vocational training abroad first and then register for further study at the University to gain more in-depth knowledge about the profession you are studying or other related professions.

Vocational training programs can last 2 or 4 years, but some programs only last 6 months. Readers can refer to the tuition fees for some professions when studying in the US through the table below:

In general, the tuition fee for vocational study abroad in the US is much lower than that of a formal university. For Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University, the tuition fee is up to 31,000 USD/year with a 4-year study program, while the maximum vocational training fee is 10,000 USD/year and students only need to study for 2 years.

Compared to apprenticeships in other countries, the cost of apprenticeships in the US can be higher or lower depending on the training program. For example, the cost of studying mechanical engineering in Canada is about 170,000,000 VND/year, while in the US it is 120,000,000 VND to 240,000,000 VND a year.

Details you can refer to: How much money does it cost to study in the US? Updated 6 types of expenses

Students need to apply for an M1 visa to study in the United States. To successfully apply for an M1 visa, you need to prepare the required documents from the U.S. Consulate, personal documents and educational qualifications, U.S. student visa application documents, and financial proof documents.

In this article, IDP would like to share the basic conditions, regulations, and cost of applying for an M1 visa to study in the US. If you want to learn more about this type of visa, you can find out more Procedures for applying for a U.S. student visa from A-Z.

International students need to understand the conditions and regulations to apply for an M-1 student visa as quickly as possible

Currently, international vocational students in the US have a lot of choices of different professions to study. You should consider factors such as human resource needs, development potential, average salary before choosing a major... to make the most suitable choice for yourself. Here are the popular careers to study abroad in the US:

5.1. Nursing

Characteristics of the industry

When applying for a vocational study abroad in the US, you will be trained in professional knowledge about human health, biological bodies and experiences and knowledge of health care for patients.

Nurses and nurses will be well-trained in health care for patients including: injections, water transfusions, first aid and wound dressings, and the use of medical equipment,...

Salary of the industry

A novice nurse or nurse can earn up to 54,790 USD/year (1,308,111,250 VND/year). This income level is also different for each profession in the industry.

Development potential

Nursing and nursing majors when studying in the US have great potential for students. According to Revcycle Intelligence xtelligent Healthcare Media, by 2025, the nurse-nursing industry in the US may be short of 200,000 to 450,000 workers. Due to the shortage of human resources, Nursing in the US is a priority profession to settle in and it is easy to find a job with a stable income.

5.2. Computer Science

Characteristics of the industry

Students studying in the US will be trained in programming skills and developing software and applications on computers. In addition, students will be studied about algorithmic processes that can be automated and replicated on a large scale.

Salary of the industry

Graduates can earn a starting income of up to 66,161 USD/year, equivalent to 1,579,593,875 VND/year. Here is the salary table you can refer to:

Development potential

In 2021, Vietnam's information technology industry lacked up to 20,000 employees (According to TopDev). According to Mr. David Wei, General Director of Huawei Vietnam, by 2030, the Asia-Pacific region is at risk of a shortage of 47 million workers in the field of information technology.

Therefore, if you choose to study in the US in this profession, after graduating, you will have many opportunities to find good jobs not only in Vietnam but also in other countries in Asia.

If you choose majors such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, you have a chance to be granted a green card by the US Government because these are industries that lack many highly specialized human resources. With this green card, you will be able to settle here for 2 years to work.

Computer science is one of the most developed and necessary professions today

5.3. Research Economics

Characteristics of the industry

For studying in the US for this major, you will be trained to learn about the current state of the economy, assess the impact of factors on the economy or the business situation of the business.

Students have a variety of job options in the field of Research Economics. You can apply to businesses, financial groups, banks, government agencies,... with a variety of professions such as accountants, teachers, economic analysts, investors,...

Salary of the industry

Experts in the field of Research Economics can earn at 70,000 USD/year (1 billion 650 million VND/year). This salary is even higher than the Nurse - Nursing major and equivalent to the salary of Computer Science. Therefore, this major is a great choice for young people who are passionate about the field of economics.

Development potential

The human resources in the US is short of up to 1.5 million managers and analysts. Therefore, young people have many job opportunities after completing the training program. If you graduated from college and are employed by a company in the United States, you can apply for a 2-year immigrant visa to work here.

5.4. Communication/ Marketing

Characteristics of the industry

Coming to this profession, you will learn knowledge about creating media content such as writing newspapers, writing advertising articles, making marketing videos, organizing product promotion and promotion activities, etc.

In addition, students will be organized by the school for a 3-month internship so that they have the opportunity to experience a real working environment while gaining personal experience. The curriculum will stimulate your creativity, helping you become more dynamic so that you can enter one of the world's most vibrant professions.

Salary of the industry

The income level of experts in the field of communication and marketing can reach 112,000 USD (2,674,000,000 VND/year). You can refer to the salary table of some specific jobs in the field of communication below:

Development potential

Studying communication in the US gives you a very high chance of settling down and working in this country. You can also choose from a wide range of job positions in the education, business, event organization, marketing, promotion, and trade promotion industries,... depending on your own abilities and interests.

5.5. Psychology

Characteristics of the industry

When studying psychology in the US, you will be provided with knowledge about psychological phenomena, research and analysis of how the brain works and functions, common emotional phenomena,... You will also be able to participate in internships in a real environment to better grasp the knowledge you have learned at school.

Salary of the industry

The income of psychologists is very high, ranging from 58,000 USD/year (1,384,750,000 VND) to 216,000 USD/year (5,157,000,000 VND). Below are the reference salaries for careers after graduation of students:

Development potential

It can be seen that the job opportunities for this profession are very diverse, especially if you have a certificate of vocational study abroad in the US, it will be an outstanding advantage over other competitors.

After graduating from psychology, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of departments and job positions. You can become a psychologist, a neurologist, a clinical psychologist, a psychologist in sports, a psychologist in business,...

In order for the study abroad process to take place smoothly and effectively, you should research and refer to reputable vocational schools in advance that are suitable for your financial capabilities.

6.1. Institute of Culinary Education (ICE)

ICE is a leading educational institution in the food and hospitality sector. Vocational courses at ICE last from 6 to 13 months with specializations such as: Culinary Arts, Baking & Baking Arts, Restaurant & Culinary Management,...

The university has successfully trained more than 16,000 students, including executives in the culinary and hospitality sectors. Currently, international students can enroll in the Culinary Arts and Pastry and Baking Arts courses.

Tuition fee: A vocational course lasting 6-12 months costs about $38,171 USD (tuition fee for 2022) about more than 937,746,000 VND

Students who love cuisine can choose the Institute of Culinary Education for their training program

6.2. Musician's Institute

The Musician's Institute offers a complete curriculum on every aspect of the music industry. Students can learn about instrument performance, DJ & production skills, composing for video games, sound engineering, guitar making, music business, and training in the latest music technology.

Through practical experience and guidance from experts, students can gain a wealth of knowledge and experience in performing arts. Tuition fee: Depending on the training program, the tuition fee will range from 14,700 USD (350,962,500 VND) to 590.00 USD (about 14,086,250,000 VND).

6.3. New York Film Academy

The New York Film Academy is suitable for students studying in the United States who do not have too large financial conditions. This school offers a very reasonable tuition fee with the educational principle of allowing students to study while working, helping students have more practical knowledge.

At the Academy, students can choose from a wide range of training programs including Filmmaking, Acting for Films, 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Radio Journalism, Cinematography, Digital Editing, Documentary Filmmaking, Game Design,...

Tuition fee: The school's tuition fee ranges from 65,096 USD (1,554,167,000 VND) to 140,643 USD (3,357,851,625 VND) depending on the major you choose.

6.4. California Flight Academy

California Flight Academy is a famous academy for its professional aviation training program in San Diego, California, USA. The academy has been licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration, so the training program here is extremely prestigious and of high quality.

The student's curriculum includes: Private pilot, Instrument rating, Multi-engine rating, Commercial pilot, Certified flight instructor, Certified flight instructor instrument, Multi-engine instructor, Airline transport pilot.

Tuition fee: Students need to spend 57,325 USD (1,368,634,375 VND) to 63,700 USD (1,520,837,500 VND) of tuition fees for the entire training program.

6.5. Professional Golfers Career College

The Professional College of Golfers is the leading two-year college of golf in the United States, offering an Associate degree in Professional Golf Management.

The school's students will be trained by experts in the field of golf. The mission of Professional Golfers Career College is to train future leaders in the world of golf. This is the only school that guarantees golf seven days a week.

The school has campuses in the nation's top golf resort destinations, Temecula, California, and Hilton Head, South Carolina.

The tuition fee for international students in the 16-month program is 9,360 USD (223,470,000 VND).

6.6. Theater of Arts ‐ Hollywood

Located in California, USA, this is the oldest acting training school in the United States. Coming to the Theater of Arts - Hollywood, you will be well-trained in acting and comedy.

Tuition fee: the latest academic year 2021-2023 tuition fee is $21,874 about more than 500,000,000 VND

6.7. Houston Community College

Houston Community College is located in the US state of Texas. It is a public community college system that operates community colleges in Houston, Missouri City, Greater Katy, and Stanford in Texas.

This school has very favorable conditions for international students, the school does not require foreign students to have English proficiency and students will be trained in English within 18 months at the school. In addition, the school is also actively implementing international enrollment plans in large numbers, so young people will have more opportunities to participate in this school.

This school supports training and certification for students in more than 70 different fields. Some of the university's research majors include: Health Sciences, Consumer Services, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Marketing, Nursing, Tourism,...

Tuition fee: depending on the number of hours and semesters you attend, a total of $227/ 1 hour, about more than 5,000,000,000 VND

Studying and living in a foreign country can bring you some difficulties. To make your study abroad process effective, IDP would like to share with readers 4 experiences of studying vocational training in the US that you can refer to!

1 - Choose the right major and school

The issue of career orientation when choosing a major and school is very important. You should carefully consider the necessary factors when choosing a major such as personal interests, job opportunities of the industry, tuition fees according to the training program, etc. Young people should also rely on their family's financial conditions to choose a school with suitable tuition and living expenses.

2 - Learn carefully about vocational training methods in the US

The vocational training method at schools in the US is not completely the same as the traditional training method in universities. The curriculum will be more practical and many schools can provide online training programs for international students. Therefore, international students should carefully study the vocational training methods of the schools to have appropriate preparation.

3 - Learn carefully about American culture and customs

Located in two different continents with two different cultures, during the study process in the US, you may experience culture shock because you have not had time to adapt to the culture of this country. For example, Americans dress very liberally and promote individualism, while Vietnamese people often dress more modestly. Therefore, readers should carefully study the customs and local culture of Americans before studying abroad. You can find information through the Internet, books, magazines and many other sources.

4 - Always show a spirit of learning and initiative

To quickly adapt to the local culture as well as expand relationships, young people should always be diligent in exploring and learning new things. You can absolutely make friends with many international students or local students by proactively starting conversations and contacting them. Those friends can help you a lot in exploring American culture as well as in your studies and in life.

Because of its inherent benefits, vocational study in the US is becoming more and more popular and preferred by young people compared to traditional university study. You can save a lot of time and money while still receiving a prestigious, quality training program and obtaining an international study abroad certificate to have better job opportunities after you return to Vietnam. This form of study abroad is also especially suitable for students who dream of studying abroad but their family's financial conditions are limited.

If young people are still wondering whether it is better to study vocational study in the US or study at a university, please contact IDP for the most accurate advice. With their knowledge and experience, experts will give you the most suitable option based on your interests, abilities and financial conditions. With close links with more than 600 prestigious educational institutions in the US, IDP will introduce you to information about scholarships to study in the US and procedures to apply for free study abroad. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact IDP to receive the earliest support!