High school graduation is a moment that is both exciting and full of choices. The only way to get a good job might seem to be to go to college, but that is not the case. This list offers methods for making a good living without a college degree.

Reasons To Consider Alternatives To College

Alternatives to college should be considered for a variety of factors, including time commitment, individual interests, and cost. You might discover that college degree programs don’t align with your skills or career interests.

In general, it takes at least two years to complete an associate’s degree, four years to complete a bachelor’s degree while enrolled full-time, and even longer to complete a master’s degree.

It may take you longer to complete your degree if you plan to attend school part-time. Alternatives to college allow you to launch your career much sooner.

Alternatives To College

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships also referred to as job-based learning, were initially developed for trade schools that train students for jobs such as plumbers, electricians, machinists, and other skilled trades. They sought to fill the demand for skilled labor from various industries.

Through paid career-training programs that cover the many disciplines relating to marketing, business administration, and finance, you can now complete apprenticeships in a wide range of professions or subjects.

Without an accounting degree, you can still become an accountant thanks to the availability of apprenticeship opportunities.

What is an apprenticeship process? Every apprenticeship program has a sponsor made up of a single company or an organization. Apprenticeships are also supported by some community colleges.

The sponsor sets the minimal requirements for acceptance, and for the majority of these programs, participants must be at least 18 years old.

Self-paced Free And Paid Resources

Some professions can be pursued without a formal education. You can find self-paced resources for related jobs such as design, coding, video production, user experience, and illustration and animation that are both free and paid.

You can pick how quickly or slowly you want to learn skills with a self-paced college alternative. Control over timing can also allow you to begin developing your skills without having to change your schedule to make time for formal instruction.

Travel Career

A travel career might be the best substitute for a traditional college education if you enjoy seeing the world and living abroad. While it is possible to attend school abroad, the costs are typically high because you are not a citizen and have not contributed to the country’s tax base.

It’s important to keep in mind that COVID-19 restrictions and requirements may cause you to experience additional travel restrictions and limitations in the near future.

Every country approaches the pandemic differently, and as the situation evolves, policies can change quickly.

Military

Serving your country while learning a variety of skills and traveling to many different places is possible in the military. You will have access to training programs when you enlist in the military for a variety of careers, including engineering, aviation, human resources, and more.

You’ll have the chance to develop skills that many employers value, like teamwork, while serving in the military. Keep in mind that if you decide to attend a college or university, you might be able to receive college credit for your military experience.

The cost of attending college can also be covered by the military.

Coding Boot Camps

With a comprehensive curriculum that can last for 8 to 15 weeks, coding boot camps and schools offer a wide range of courses. They instruct you on everything related to computer systems and technologies, including full-stack web development, data science, digital marketing, UX/UI design, and JavaScript.

Without spending a lot of money or time, these schools assist you in beginning your tech-focused career. There are programs for “Full-time, In-Person,” “Full-tie Remote,” “Self-paced,” and “Part-time, Career-Focused” boot camps that you can enroll in.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

While some providers impose a small fee, MOOCs are typically free. As a result, students receive an affordable education that will prepare them for their future careers.

There is no minimum enrollment requirement for MOOCs, and neither do they adhere to the formalized structures of traditional or online education. The majority of courses are self-paced, allowing students to begin and stop at any time.

MOOCs and online colleges share many similarities, including the use of the same online course materials, hiring of the same professors, and availability of flexible scheduling for students.

Some MOOCs for math, science, and humanities-related subjects are provided in collaboration with colleges and universities like Harvard and Oxford. In contrast to structured grading in online colleges, MOOCs typically employ peer and automated grading.

Foundation Degrees

Your chance to study while working is a foundation degree. It is the best choice if you are unsure about going to college but are concerned about building a career.

Universities frequently partner with other colleges and institutions to organize foundation degree programs. A foundation degree is equivalent to two-thirds of an honors degree. It helps you develop practical skills and focuses on a particular profession.

Full-time students can finish the program in two years with no set entry requirements. Successful students develop into well-trained individuals who, thanks to their improved technical, management, and cognitive skills, excel in the vocational sector.

Start A Business

You might be starting your entrepreneurial journey if you have a business idea or if you want to make a hobby into a career. You can work for yourself by putting your talents to use in order to produce and offer goods or services to others.

Although formal education is not necessary to succeed as an entrepreneur, it can be helpful to have a foundational understanding of business and marketing. This will increase your chances of success. 

Vocational Education And Trade Schools

You can learn all the skills necessary for a given career or trade by attending trade schools and receiving vocational education. To become a stylist, for instance, you might enroll in a vocational education program or attend culinary school.

Auto, medical, dental, welding, firefighting, law enforcement, animal care, and technology are additional fields of study for vocational education and trade schools.

Since you won’t be taking electives or other classes unrelated to your career path, this type of college alternative can give you a more direct path to a rewarding career.

Become A Realtor

Real estate is a self-starter career with a low entry threshold, making it simple to get started. While each state has its own requirements, the fundamental standards typically resemble these:

• Be older than 18 or 19 (varies by state)
• Be a legal US resident
• Complete your required pre-license education
• Pass your state real estate examination to obtain a realtor’s license

That’s all there is to it; the rest is up to you. The more you put into improving yourself personally and honing your sales and marketing abilities, the more successful you’ll be.

Join An Accelerator

If you have a great idea for a startup but need some cash and mentorship to get it off the ground, you could apply for a fellowship, incubator, or accelerator like Y Combinator, the Thiel Fellowship, or Echoing Green.

Accelerators are short-term initiatives that support and guide startups while offering them a variety of tools, financing, opportunities for education, and networking contacts to ensure their success.

A startup’s participation in an accelerator is a challenging, intense, and competitive process that usually ends with a pitch to investors (venture capitalists).