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Postsecondary education and training options

There are many types of postsecondary education and training programs available for people with various abilities.

Education after high school provides many benefits beyond achieving a fulfilling career. Your child will have opportunities to develop life skills, experience greater independence, meet new people, and explore their interests and the world around them.

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Postsecondary education and training options include:

  • Adult basic education. Classes are often available free of charge to help students develop skills in areas such as reading, writing, math and computer proficiency.

  • Apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships allow people to learn on the job. Wages increase as job-specific skills are mastered through both classroom and on-the-job training.

  • Certificate programs. Technical colleges, trade schools and workforce programs offer preparation for certification exams, which test skills or knowledge in specific competencies.

  • Community education. Explore lifelong learning options in a local community setting.

  • Degree programs. These programs include two-year associate degrees, four-year bachelor's degrees, and graduate degrees (such as master's degrees and PhDs).

  • Military opportunities. Military options include Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, National Guard, Navy, Marines and Space Force.

  • Inclusive higher education programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Some colleges offer postsecondary education programs for youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

  • Postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) and concurrent enrollment. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 can earn college credit while still in high school.

Community colleges can be strategic stepping stones, often providing smaller class sizes, lower costs and strong disability support services in a culturally familiar environment. The skills learned at a two-year college easily transfer to four-year universities or the workforce.

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Talk about hopes and dreams with your child. Explore their strengths, interests and goals, then brainstorm ways that postsecondary education or training could help them move toward those goals. Use the Postsecondary Resource Guide (PDF) created in collaboration by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to help plan your student's future.

Try out the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Career Pathways Tool, which can help start career and postsecondary exploration. The DEED Career Pathways Worksheet can help you use the tool.

Research nearby community colleges, technical schools and adult education centers. Explore resources from Disability Hub MN on Choosing a college (PDF) and Differences between high school and college (PDF). The College exploration worksheet (PDF) can help organize your next steps.

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