Most high schoolers wonder if they have to go to college in order to have a successful lifestyle. Is it really worth all the money that comes with it? Many careers that need a college degree don’t pay well enough to afford all the college expenses, and debt that were accumulated over the years. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average starting salary for college graduates is about $51,000, but many will earn less than that. To add on, if you have college debt you may be living paycheck to paycheck.

In addition, many job careers don’t require a degree, looking just for talent and skill. The Wall Street Journal reports that 41% of U.S. jobs postings asked for a college degree in November. That’s 5% lower than 2019. A vast amount of people that have a degree make the same amount of money as someone without one. 

Nowadays young adults are investing into stocks and creating their own businesses to earn their money, instead of going to college. While investing in stock may be risky, many benefit out of it. You can always find young self-made millionaires living their most successful lives just because they invested in stocks smartly, or started their own business, like an app. A number of them didn’t attend college, and are earning more than someone who graduated.

Others are finding success in a trade, as an electrician or plumber, for example. Certificate programs or a 2-year Associate’s Degree is another option for high paying careers as a radiation therapist, registered nurse, computer programmer or dental hygienist.

As Steve Jobs once said “I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out.”

With the rising cost of an education, many young adults feel the same.  Corporations are catching on. Companies like Apple, Google, Bank of America and IBM have stopped requiring college degrees.