Today’s high school graduates are thinking creatively about what will serve them best after graduation.
In part, it’s a reaction to rising tuition at traditional four-year colleges and universities and ballooning student debt. But fresh thinking about what’s next is also driven by students’ curiosity about a new path and interest in a new landscape of more affordable certificate and degree programs that offer real-world experiences aligned to a clear pathway to work. In March 2024, the Wall Street Journal labeled Generation Z the “toolbelt generation,” reflecting the rising number of young people enrolling in programs that prepare them for well-paying skilled trade jobs, reinvigorated by technology.
With such a rich and diverse ecosystem of opportunities, it’s no wonder that an increasing number of students are questioning whether a bachelor’s degree — long considered the standard bearer in higher education — is the best path forward. Throughout the research conducted for this guide, the message was resoundingly clear: College still matters. The data is just as explicit, showing that some form of postsecondary education is critical for economic success. Therefore, we must help young people channel their skepticism into a more productive search for the right next step after high school.
As tuition, fees, and room and board soar to $100,000 annually at private colleges and universities and acceptance rates for the top-ranked schools hover around the 3% to 10% range, it is perhaps unsurprising that these new postsecondary options are so appealing. Especially considering that a bachelor’s degree is no longer required to nab certain jobs at companies such as Google, IBM, Delta Airlines and Bank of America. In fact, almost half of all college graduates are working in jobs that don’t require their degrees in the decade after they got their diploma, according to blockbuster research last year.
Yes, research shows that a degree is still worthwhile and a reliable path to a fruitful career, even if a return on investment is further out than it used to be. Yet in today’s rapidly shifting economy, there’s an appetite for a degree that provides at least some tangible workforce experience. And the forces at play have given rise to an extraordinary new cadre of higher education influencers, entrepreneurs, celebrities and techno-optimists eager to offer new pathways post-high school graduation for students and families who are hungry for alternatives and wondering more vocally than ever about the college-going process, “Is it just me, or is there a better way?”
Those who have already broken from the herd are reporting early success, according to one recent survey, which shows 71% of students pursuing nondegree postsecondary pathways reported feeling prepared for the workforce. But the path less taken isn’t always easy to find. There’s precious little information about new approaches and even less data to help learners evaluate their quality. In fact, in that same Jobs for the Future survey, 2 in 3 youth who did not pursue a nondegree education pathway indicated they would have considered this option if they had known more about it.
And that’s the problem: Families and students have all the information in the world on colleges and universities thanks to efforts like the Department of Education’s College Scorecard and U.S. News & World Report’s annual college rankings. But they don’t have nearly enough data and guidance on alternative pathways.
Before you explore this new “guide,” a disclaimer: There are loads of options for students after they graduate from high school. Here, we cover just a few. It is far from exhaustive but meant to spark curiosity and embolden a generation of future leaders and creators to join the movement afoot and think differently about life beyond high school.
