Wisconsin has had a vocational and technology system forever. Now some are using these schools to take prerequisites for a four year college instead of learning a trade/profession. Originally these schools were never meant as a transition. Now Madison’s MATC (Madison Area Technical College- same letters for the Milwaukee one) has become Madison College I hear (I moved OOS) and serves as a lower cost option. Wisconsin has had a system of many other four year universities. The link lists three of the UW system four year schools, none of the AA or other credentials schools. A student can apply to transfer from any UW system school to the flagship in Madison. There is no CC system in Wisconsin that I am aware of, despite the recent attempts to do so for MATC.
What do other states do to educate/train residents for noncollege jobs that require post HS educations? Do their students need to go to private/for profit schools?