College has become the most sought after path for students after high school. But, with the higher and higher cost of colleges and high competition for college necessary work, is college the right path for everyone?
Here are some of the best alternatives that students might want to consider (in no particular order):
Trade schools: this is a popular alternative to college. Trade school allows you to focus on one specific job, opposed to college which give you a broader based education. The typical courses you think of when you imagine a trade school are: plumbing, electrician, welder, carpenter, etc. But, there are also courses that work on tech, health and art careers, IT technician, cybersecurity specialist, graphic design, medical assistants and more.
Trade schools are two year schools with a much lower cost. Trade schools charge $2,500-$13,000 for a year of tuition in Massachusetts, compared to the average of $47,000 dollars per year in public and private colleges. Also, trade schools are incredibly easy to get in to compared to traditional colleges. Most have no GPA requirements and only require a high school diploma.
Trade work has also never been in more demand than right now, as many students are choosing to pursue college jobs. Trade school offers a cheaper Alternative to students that are willing to take the less skilled jobs.
Employment: Working up the corporate ladder is one of the oldest forms of social mobility. Long and exceptional work for a company can lead to promotions and higher pay. While it’s not expected that you will earn more than a college graduate, promotion opportunities are possible. For example, say you’re a dishwasher for a restaurant, and because of after hours of work for that restaurant you may receive opportunities to become a prep cook and later even a chef. This path gives you one of a company’s favorite values as a worker experience.
Showing dedication and ability to do certain jobs will result in employers noticing. This is typically possible in lower skilled establishments like car repair shops, restaurants, small businesses and stores.
Entrepreneurship: Creating your own business is probably the path in this list with the highest potential. Depending on your idea, dedication, and luck, it is possible to become incredibly successful. Jimmy John’s founder Jimmy Liautaud graduated second to last in his graduating class and started Jimmy Johns after military service. Liautaud is now worth 2.4 billion dollars.
U.S. Small Business Administration, banks and online lenders are a few places to receive money, but when first starting, loans can be hard to get. You can open personal business loans that are set up by the U.S. Small Business Administration, but they vary depending on your business and how much of the business you have built up. A business credit card can be very helpful for everyday expenses but is difficult to receive before you start a business.
Community College: While a college in name, community colleges differ in some categories. First, community college cost is far less or even free; in Massachusetts the average cost of attendance is only $5,870. Community colleges also have smaller tuition fees if you’re from the state that the school is located.
Community colleges only have a 3.00 GPA or higher requirement to attend. If you feel that your GPA doesn’t hold up to the college standard, community colleges are much less competitive.
Lastly, the location of private universities are sparser than community colleges. In other words community colleges are more prevalent and therefore more likely to be close to where you live. For people that want to stay close to home this might not be a bad option. Community college is the option for students that want to pursue a college career but are unable to attend four year colleges because of the cost, location and or academic requirements.
Military: A path that less and less Americans are deciding to choose, the military is a broad subject with many different options and paths. The Army accepts GPAs of only 2.5, for example, but to enter the Naval Academy you will need a GPA of at least 3.66 and the Air Force Academy accepts 3.8. Additional requirements for joining any part of the Army are the following: must be 17 to 35 years old, must be medically and physically fit, a US citizen for starters.
Serving in the military also makes you eligible for benefits in the future. Military service vets are given their own healthcare plan, pensions including other benefits which are for specific cases. Being a part of the military also allows you to live in many different places. The US military has hundreds of military bases in foreign countries like: Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Spain, Qatar ect. Of course there are many risks with being apart of the military, obviously in action zones but also there are many countries with military bases that are hostile to American presence.
So, while college is still an option, there are many quality alternatives for the high school graduate.
