College is one of the most powerful experiences for impacting your career and quality of life. Still, it’s not the right choice for everybody. There are many different career and life paths available to students, and it isn’t necessary to feel pressured into attending college.
If you or your child are considering skipping college, you aren’t alone. The rising costs of higher education and the seemingly low ROI for current professions are driving many young adults away from college and toward other career paths that have faster and more promising career advancement.
In this post, we are going to look at some of the most popular alternatives to college and the benefits that they offer as well as the drawbacks.
Not All Colleges Are The Same
Before we explore the alternatives to college, we should first make clear that not all colleges are the same. Financial problems that can exist with a 4-year university plan are often avoided by simply attending a community college, technical college, or 2-year college.
The benefit of going this route is that you often receive a high quality education at a fraction of the time and tuition cost. Many careers do not require a bachelor’s degree to get started.
High school graduates are often faced with the tough choice of paying high college tuition, but there are other options.
If you are disenfranchised by the idea of a multi-year education that costs more than $100,000, then the solution might not to be skip college altogether, but simply pursue a less expensive education.
Technical or Trade School
If you are looking to launch a high income career in a specific trade, it doesn’t make sense to attend college. Find a technical or trade school that specializes in the industry of interest and enroll. Whether you want to become a master welder, heavy equipment mechanic, or plumber, there are trade schools that will provide the necessary education and fast track you into a career. The only drawback is that your education will be highly specialized and making a career change will be challenging if you decide that you want to pursue something different.
Military Service
If you aren’t quite sure what career you would like to pursue, enlisting for service in the military is a great way to earn a competitive income and receive a free education in any number of industries. Military service will allow you to travel and be exposed to a wide number of career choices within the military. The drawback is that military lifestyles are demanding and can require frequent deployments. The military culture is not right for everyone.
Start a Business
If you have an idea for starting a business, you may decide to bypass college and launch your business. Business ownership is a great way to outearn your peers, if your business thrives. It also allows for a flexible lifestyle with lots of freedom. The drawback to business ownership is that it requires discipline and an initial investment of cash and long hours. There is no guarantee that your business idea will be successful, so business owners must be ready to pivot.
Gap Year
Travel
There aren’t many times in our adult lives when we have the opportunity to travel at will for an extended period of time. After high school is one of these ideal travel times. Discover yourself, learn new languages, explore different cultures, and expand your worldview. Traveling the world provides an education that college can’t. The drawback is that it typically requires a large sum of money.
Volunteer
If you aren’t sure what type of career or education you would like to eventually pursue, volunteering can help you to decide. Not only will you grow as a person, you will contribute to your community in a meaningful way. Whether you are interested in climate change, food insecurity, racial justice, access to healthcare, homelessness, or any other number of social causes, there is a volunteer opportunity waiting for you to explore.
Freelance
Do you have a skill in photography, writing, graphic design, or any other in-demand specialty? If so, consider becoming a freelancer. Showcase your talents on any number of online platforms and apply for freelance jobs. Part-time freelancing can quickly lead to a full-time career.
Become An Influencer
If you understand social media and how to grow a strong following, become a paid influencer. Promote products and services in exchange for a fee or commission. Becoming an influencer can literally get you paid to be on social media and is a fun way to launch a career or earn money to attend college at a later date.
Write a Book
You may feel that you lack the experience needed to write a book, but your unique life experiences and perspective are valuable. If you enjoy writing, start writing a book. Start with a genre that resonates with you and start writing. There are so many self-publishing and marketing platforms available for your finished book. Who knows, you just may have a best seller in you.
Become an Apprentice
If you are ready to jump into the professional world in a specific industry, consider becoming an apprentice. An apprenticeship is a structured program where an individual works closely with an experienced professional to learn skills and gain knowledge of a certain field. In most cases, the apprentice will receive some sort of payment in exchange for their labor. Apprenticeships are great ways to quickly enter the workforce, but the drawback is that they rarely pay well and do not offer job security, as they are mostly contract positions.
Take Online Classes
Do you have various interests but don’t want to commit to a full course track that is required for a college degree? Sign up for some online classes and further your education in the areas that you care most about. Education is enriching, whether it results in a credential or not.
Get Certified
If you are interested in learning specialized skills, but don’t want to go to college, enroll in a certificate program. Hundreds of lucrative careers require certifications, but not a full degree. Certificate programs provide you with specialized training and credentials and most will even place you with a job once the program is completed.
Coding Bootcamps
If you are interested in learning computer coding and quickly launching a lucrative career as quickly as possible, start applying to coding bootcamps. Coding bootcamps are less expensive than a college degree and only take a few months to complete. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% increase in information technology jobs between 2021 and 2031 and the median annual salary is $97,430.
Start a Career
There are many career options where you can start in an entry-level position and advance over the years. Real estate and banking are two such career options. If college is not for you, find an industry that interests you and apply for entry-level jobs. As you learn each position, apply for advancement to a different position. This is a great way to learn about the many parts of an industry and has the potential of advancement to a high position with time.
Find an Internship
Becoming an intern has several of the same benefits as working an entry-level job. The commitments are typically short-term and requires a lower level of commitment. Internships are a great way to learn a variety of positions which can help you decide what you enjoy.
It is not the end of the world if you can’t or don’t want to attend college. So many opportunities await young people who are ambitious and searching for their next path.