For some students, figuring out what comes after high school starts with knowing what’s out there.

That’s the idea behind Maricopa Unified School District’s fourth annual College & Career Expo, which will bring colleges, businesses and career programs together Oct. 20.

The event has evolved over the past four years. Previous versions were held at school sites and primarily targeted high school students. This year, MUSD is opening the event to students across the district and hosting it in the evening at the district office.

Emily Maxwell, MUSD’s director of K-12 College and Career Readiness and CTE director, said students often discover options they hadn’t considered at previous career fairs.

“Kids are surprised about the number of options that they have,” she said.

The goal is for students to leave with a connection, whether that’s with a college, a potential employer or an industry they had not previously considered.

“We want to promote all the options that students could potentially go into once they graduate from high school,” Maxwell said.

That includes traditional college pathways as well as career and technical education programs. MUSD offers CTE programs ranging from automotive technology, aviation and culinary arts to engineering, network security and app design.

Central Arizona College will participate, along with other colleges and local businesses. MUSD also is working with Arizona@Work to bring a variety of industries to the event.

Maxwell encourages students who aren’t sure what they want to do after high school to talk to as many exhibitors as possible and take notes.

“Go and talk to everybody,” she said.

The event also will include information for parents about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, with assistance available for families who need help completing the form.

The College & Career Expo is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the MUSD District Office, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. The event is open to the community.