Rio Grande Valley trade schools flagged for graduates earning less than those with a high school diploma

The U.S. Department of Education flagged 13 vocational schools across the Rio Grande Valley for the first time, noting the low earnings of its graduates and suggesting that the degrees offered at those institutions are not as valuable as students may believe. 

Students applying for federal student aid to pay for higher education will be warned that graduates of the schools they plan to attend earn on average less than those with high school diplomas alone. 

The schools are still eligible to accept federal student aid, and the designation does not impact a student’s ability to borrow money to attend there, either.

The vocational schools flagged are for-profit businesses charging between $10,000 to $20,000 in tuition for career training that ranges from an associate’s degree in business administration to a medical assistant. Students often borrow student loans to pay for such education.