Career and technical education, often referred to as vocational education, has long played a vital role in American postsecondary education. This chapter outlines the role of career of technical education in the expansion of American secondary and postsecondary education, including the ways career and technical education has both expanded access and limited access to opportunity for students. The chapter highlights the role of high school career and technical education in preparing students for college, overviews different ways career and technical education is offered in postsecondary institutions, and summarizes the base of empirical evidence on career and technical education. The chapter closes with a broader lens, turning to what lessons might be learned from international contexts and finally identifying key questions, considerations, and takeaways for readers. Throughout, the chapter argues that career and technical education plays a unique and crucial role in American postsecondary education, one that deserves the attention of policymakers, practitioners, and researchers looking forward to the future of higher education.