Is college a trade school or something else?

I'm a bit confused about the difference between colleges and trade schools. How do you identify whether a particular college is a traditional academic institution or more of a trade-focused one?

Colleges and trade schools serve different educational purposes and appeal to different types of students, depending on their career goals.

Traditional colleges typically offer a broad, general education that encompasses a variety of fields of study. Students could receive degrees in arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and more. Commencing with a range of foundation courses, the students then narrow down their focus on a major for their degree. These institutions typically offer undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees.

On the other hand, trade schools, also known as vocational or technical schools, are designed to offer specialized training in a particular field or industry. Programs at trade schools tend to be more hands-on and focus on practical skills. Fields could include plumbing, electrician work, cosmetology, culinary arts, and more. The goal of attending a trade school is to gain the knowledge and technical skills required to pursue a specific job directly following graduation.

You can identify a traditional academic institution by looking at the variety of degrees and courses it offers. If it offers a wide range of academic disciplines with options to study at multiple levels (bachelor's, master's, PhDs), it's most likely a traditional college or university. If an institution only offers programs in specific professional fields that involve hands-on training, it's probably a trade school.

Remember, the best choice between a trade school and a traditional college depends upon your individual career goals and learning preferences.