One of 14 paths
Job training programs, some with no tuition, some with a stipend.
You train for a job, and at Job Corps and Year Up United you pay no tuition.
It fits if you want training and support, and do well with structure and help finding work.
Watch for: the trades taught and the number of spots depend on the program and location.
Each scale shows its level and the reason, and "our read" marks a judgment call.
Level: Paid a living allowance, 2 of 5 on the getting-paid side
Job Corps and Year Up United charge no tuition, and both pay you a stipend or living allowance.
Dollar signs to the left of the middle mean you're paid while you do it, and dollar signs to the right mean you pay. More of them means more money either way. The mark in the middle means free.
Level: A year or less to about three years, 1 to 3 of 5
Year Up United takes about a year, and Job Corps can run up to three years.
Level: Middle, 3 of 5
The jobs these programs train you for usually pay near the middle.
This varies a lot with the specific job, the place, and experience.
Middle means the middle pay across all jobs.
Level: An application, 3 of 5
Each program checks your age and situation, and spots are limited, so read its rules first.
Level: Mostly easy, 2 of 5
You keep the skills and the help finding work, and you haven't spent tuition.
Level: A fair amount new, 3 of 5
Some programs have you live at a center, while others let you stay home.
Job Corps is a full-time program, and many students live on campus. Year Up United usually runs Monday to Friday, partly online and partly in person. YouthBuild splits your time between a work site and a classroom. At YouthBuild, you work toward a diploma or GED while you train. Rules differ by program, so ask what a normal week looks like.
Job Corps is for low-income young people ages 16 through 24. Year Up United is for ages 18 to 29 who have a diploma or GED and a low to moderate income, and live within commuting distance of a site. YouthBuild is for ages 16 to 24 who left school without a diploma. If you're under 18, a parent, guardian, or other approved adult has to consent before you enroll in Job Corps. Job Corps runs a background check and has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy. Each program has more rules, so check its eligibility page first. If you're out of school, an American Job Center gives free help to anyone looking for work, and the youth program it partners with can add job training and work experience for 16 to 24 year olds who qualify.
Job Corps says you finish with the skills to start a career or an apprenticeship, go to college, or join the military. Its staff help with your job search and stay in touch after you graduate. At Year Up United you get access to an internship, then help finding a job. YouthBuild prepares you for college, an apprenticeship, or a job. A year in, you could have finished Year Up United.
Job Corps says leaving is your decision, and asks you to talk with campus staff first. Most Job Corps campuses partner with community colleges, some for college credit. Year Up United doesn't let you change specialty once you're assigned. If you aren't accepted, an American Job Center may help you find another program.
Pick one to try this month. Trying a thing isn't choosing it.
Put these to an admissions office, a center, or someone who finished.
George Foreman left school after ninth grade, and in 1965 Job Corps assigned him to a center. There he learned to lay bricks, and a fellow trainee asked him about boxing. He won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics.
A story like this can't tell you what's likely for you.
Rules, locations, and start dates change, so check them at the source.
These three paths are close to this one, and their pages use the same scales.
It fits if you want steady work in health, wellness, or public safety, like EMT or firefighter.
It fits if you want income, or you're not ready for more school.
It fits if you like hands-on, physical work and want a clear path in.