7 Practical Alternatives to College
Postsecondary education isn’t for everyone – many people seek alternatives to college when it comes to training for their future career. And there are lots of great alternatives out there if you know where to look.
In this post, we’ll discuss some of the potential pros and cons of attending, or not attending, a college or university. We’ll then go on to explore seven possible alternatives to college that can help you achieve all your career goals.
Should You Go to College?
Before we get started, we’d like to clarify what we mean by college – because not every country defines these words the same way. We’re using the US definition: an educational institution that offers undergraduate and/or postgraduate certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
Deciding whether or not to go to college is a big decision – and it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario.
Advantages of College
For many people, college can be a transformational experience, offering both academic and personal growth. Some of the key benefits of attending college include:
- Higher earning potential: On average, college graduates earn more over their lifetime than those without a degree. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that, in 2022, the median earnings of those with a bachelor’s degree were 59% higher than the earnings of those who only completed high school.
- Broader career access: Many professions – such as law, healthcare, or engineering – require a college qualification.
- A chance to explore your interests: College gives you time and space to study subjects you’re curious about before settling on a career.
- Expanded professional network: Meeting peers, professors, and industry professionals can open doors down the line.
- Structured academic environment: If you thrive in classroom settings, college can be a motivating and supportive space to learn.
- Lower unemployment rates: Historically, degree holders face fewer employment gaps during economic downturns. For example, during the COVID-19 recession, less-educated workers accounted for 80% of all employment declines in the US.
Advantages of Alternatives to College
Success can be obtained without going to college, though. Here are some things to contemplate if you are considering an alternative to college:
- Cost savings: College tuition can be expensive. Forgoing it may help you avoid debt and start earning sooner.
- Direct-to-work pathways: Many careers – including those in the trades, tech, and creative industries – don’t require a degree. According to research by Hiring Lab, the share of US job postings requiring at least a college degree fell from 20.4% to 17.8% in the last five years.
- Academic requirements: College admission often depends on good high school grades, which may limit options.
- Early workforce entry: By skipping college, you can start building real-world experience and financial independence earlier.
- Learning preferences: If academic settings don’t suit your learning style, practical or self-directed alternatives might be more effective.
Ultimately, whether college is the right path for you will depend on your career goals, financial situation, and personal preferences. The good news? There are lots of rewarding alternatives to explore – and we’re about to take a look at some of them.
7 Alternatives to College
Now that we’ve looked at the advantages and disadvantages of going to college, let’s explore some of the amazing alternatives that are available if you’ve decided college isn’t for you.
1. Take a Gap Year
A lot of students head directly from high school to college, and some of them end up regretting that decision. Taking a little time to relax and explore yourself, your interests, and the world you live in can be incredibly valuable before deciding on a career.
A gap year (or sabbatical year) is when people decide to take a constructive break from their education or work to examine other interests. This is a great option if you want to travel, develop new skills, meet people from different backgrounds, volunteer for a worthwhile cause, or just take some much-needed time off. Popular gap year programs – such as Go Overseas, Pacific Discovery, or Raleigh International – can also provide structure and support during this time.
2. Enroll in Vocational Training or Trade Schools
While this type of education isn’t free, it is often cheaper than going to college. Vocational training and trade schools offer educational courses or programs that are specifically designed for particular job functions or trades. They are great choices for people who prefer a “hands-on” career.
Electrics, plumbing, and carpentry are just a few examples of skills you can learn through vocational training. Many of these programs take two years or less to complete, and lead to well-paying jobs. For instance:
- An entry-level electrician in the US can expect to earn between $40,000 and $60,000 per year. An experienced electrician can make as much as $130,000 a year.
- An entry-level plumber can expect to earn between $38,000 and $55,000 per year. An experienced plumber can make as much as $115,000 per year.
- An entry-level carpenter can expect to earn between $33,000 and $50,000 per year. An experienced carpenter can make as much as $95,000 per year.
3. Become an Apprentice
As already mentioned, a lot of jobs don’t require you to go to college. Various trades such as carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and even digital roles like marketing and IT allow you to learn while working in your chosen field.
This is a perfect option if you already have a clear idea of what you would like to do. When you become an apprentice, you will be trained under the guidance of a skilled professional. You may not make a full wage at first, but as your experience grows, so will your pay – and you’ll likely gain certifications that boost your future job prospects.
Governments often offer formal apprenticeship programs or directories. For example, Apprenticeship USA in the US, and the UK government’s find an apprenticeship tool. You can also find apprenticeship opportunities by checking the “careers” or “jobs” section of employers’ websites, visiting traditional job boards, and networking at careers expos.
4. Join the Military
Depending on where you live, a career in the military can be very rewarding. This option offers skills training, travel opportunities, and other benefits in exchange for serving your country for a certain duration of time.
If you can thrive in a structured and disciplined environment, you’ll find that engineering, aviation, medicine, and human resources are among the multitude of career paths available through military service. Take some time to read up on the options available in your region. The US and UK military, for example, have detailed information on each role on their websites.
Many countries also offer post-service benefits such as paid education or veteran hiring programs in civilian industries.
5. Leverage On-The-Job Training
If you can find an entry-level job at a company that values its employees and offers training, there’s nothing wrong with working hard and progressing through the ranks there.
This is great for people who like the security of working at one place for an extended period. You can build your skills while getting paid – and many roles come with clear pathways to promotion. Industries like customer service, hospitality, logistics, and IT support often provide structured on-the-job training for new hires. As your experience and aptitude grow, you will qualify for promotions and periodic raises in salary.
Some employers, including large brands like Amazon, Starbucks, and Walmart, even offer education support, internal certifications, or tuition reimbursement to help staff develop professionally.
6. Learn Online
Just because you don’t want to go to college doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t like school. Fortunately, the internet provides us with plenty of free and paid learning opportunities.
If you want to take your education into your own hands, many online opportunities are self-paced, so you can work on them in your free time. Computer coding, writing, photography, editing, and world languages represent a small fraction of the things you can learn online.
Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy offer beginner-friendly and affordable training programs. And, of course, there’s Knowadays. Our CPD-accredited courses are perfect for anyone looking to jump-start a flexible freelance career.
7. Start Your Own Business or Freelance
Have you ever wanted to be your own boss? If you have a business idea or want to turn a passion into a career, starting your own business could be the right option.
If you’re hard-working, self-disciplined, and possess good time-management skills, becoming a freelancer can be extremely rewarding. One of the great aspects of running a freelance business is that you don’t have any employees to worry about. Develop your skills, find some clients, do the work, and get paid!
Just a few of the highest-paying freelance jobs available at the time of writing include:
- Copywriting: Copywriters write persuasive, engaging text for marketing and advertising purposes.
- Editing: Editors check pieces of writing for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, flow, and style.
- Web design: Web designers determine the look of a website – its colors, fonts, graphics, and user interface.
- Programming: Programmers write the code – essentially a set of instructions – that controls the functions of a computer program or app.
- Accounting: Accountants help businesses and individuals keep clear financial records. They may also summarize, analyze, or report on those records.
Becoming a Freelancer
If the freedom and flexibility of taking self-paced online training and starting your own thriving freelance business sound appealing to you, check out our CPD-accredited courses, which can help anyone start a rewarding new career in proofreading, editing, freelance writing, and more.
Don’t worry if you don’t know which one of these options is right for you; take advantage of our free lessons and start learning today!
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