College preparation is a key part of the high school curriculum. From ACT tutoring to private counseling sessions, students set on higher education have helpful resources at their disposal.
It’s true –college and university are the perfect next step for many. It’s crucial to remember, however, that a traditional post-secondary education isn’t ideal or even possible for many high school graduates.
According to a Lumina Foundation-Gallup 2024 State of Higher Education study, 87% of those who left college before earning a degree cite costs as a main reason for leaving school. Another joint study, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, HCM Strategists and Edge Research found that on-the-job training, licenses and professional certifications were all rated by high schoolers to be more valuable than a four-year college education.
This preference extends to the recruiting process. A LinkedIn report announces that 85% of their employers use skills-based hiring in 2025. 90% of these employers report less hiring mistakes, and 94% claim that skills-based hires outperform coworkers hired based on degrees. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports a rise in skills-based hiring as well. According to their 2026 survey, 71% report using this hiring approach at least half the time.
It’s well-known that construction, plumbing and electricity are all jobs that don’t require a degree. However, the U.S. Career Institute also cites flight attendants ($67,130), law enforcement officers ($76,290), advertising sales agents ($61,460) and computer specialists ($108,970) as careers that require no more than a high school diploma. Even the medical field has something to offer to those without a degree, with positions such as surgical technologists ($62,830) and licensed practical nurses ($64,150), neither of which requires a college education.
There is also a world of arts-focused careers that, although historically falsely frowned upon as unsuccessful, are ideal for many creatively inclined young adults. Special effects artists/animators ($99,800), art directors ($110,040), sound engineers ($66,430) and music producers are a few jobs that could earn a living without a college diploma. These jobs, along with countless others in various creative fields, often rely on practical measurements of skill, such as portfolios and entry-level experience, rather than proof of an education.
Those who excel at self-management and thrive in flexibility can find many benefits in self-employment. Although this option has no official requirements, assuming that working for oneself would be simple is a critical mistake. It requires many thought-out decisions, networking, communication and self-management skills to take care of obstacles that don’t concern individuals living on a salary. However, it can be an accommodating alternative for some employed disabled and neurodivergent people. Becca Lory Hector, an autistic, self-employed neurodiversity consultant, author and speaker, writes, “I simply cannot do a ‘normal’ work schedule. …It leaves me feeling trapped at work for no reason, a feeling I recognize from my school years.”
The value of higher education must be recognized as crucial to the success of many. Some students have an aptitude for academic settings. Many jobs require varying levels of post-secondary education, and some students select their career paths during their college experience. College is also a wonderful way to open opportunities to raise one’s salary, with degree holders often receiving higher pay than those without schooling.
That said, for those who want to raise their wages and increase opportunities while spending minimal time and money in college, a 2-year associates degree would be a great option. Those with an associates degree have many opportunities to earn salaries in the six figures, similar to 4-year degree holders.
Ultimately, what’s most important for parents, teachers and mentors to understand is that success and self-actualization isn’t defined by any one pathway. It is important to encourage each student’s growth by making them aware of all of their options, so that each high school graduate can make a choice not pressured by abstract ideas of success and expectations. This benefits both the student and society at large: by letting individuals contribute the best parts of themselves in pursuit of a future that allows them to be their best and happiest selves.
