What's after high school? Start a career with these college alternatives.
Fewer high schoolers enrolled in college this fall than a year ago, partly thanks to hefty tuition costs and changing attitudes about the value of a college degree.
For people interested in alternatives to a traditional four-year college program out of high school, USA TODAY researched programs that can lead to a well-paying career. Those options include teaching and construction apprenticeships, coding boot camps and content creation courses.
Young people should know there are different careers and opportunities available to them through these paths, particularly in high-demand and expanding industries, said Jean Eddy, president and CEO of the national nonprofit organization American Student Assistance.
Five in-demand jobs You don't need a college degree to pursue
Teaching apprenticeships, residencies and 'grow your own' programs
Teaching at a public school generally requires a four-year degree eventually, but getting started in the career doesn't always require immediate enrollment in college after high school.
Several states offer and are investing in alternative programs to entering the educator workforce to address teacher diversity disparities and fill educator shortages.
Some teaching apprenticeships and residencies allow students to earn college credits while they serve in classrooms as paraprofessionals and teaching assistants alongside a mentor teacher, according to a description of the programs from the Washington D.C.-based think tank National Council on Teacher Quality
The programs typically require students to be simultaneously enrolled in some form of schooling for education, but that doesn't necessarily have to be at a four-year college, said Heather Peske, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality.
More than 7,400 people opted for teacher apprenticeships in 2023, according to federal data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports kindergarten, elementary, middle school and high school teachers all make an average of more than $60,000 per year.
Content creation courses and coding boot camps
Internet content creators don't necessarily require a college degree to be successful, but they often need business and marketing skills.
Coursera, a national online course provider in the U.S., and other companies that provide online classes are available to people who want to gain those skills and can help people enter the profession without a college degree. The programs vary in cost.
Computer software company Adobe has created a digital academy that teaches course-takers about artificial intelligence literacy, content creation and digital marketing skills, for example.
Jobs in internet marketing and content creation are also in demand, wrote Stacy Martinet, vice president of marketing strategy and operations at Adobe, in an email to USA TODAY.
"The rise of the creator economy and breakthrough AI technologies have rapidly increased the demand for content creation and marketing expertise, unleashing a wave of new opportunities across every industry," Martinet said.
People interested in pursuing a career in computer science, including artificial intelligence, can also enroll in coding boot camps.
Columbia University describes a coding boot camp as "a concentrated course" that teaches people skills and gives hands-on training to jobseekers.
"Coding boot camps condense the time and expense required to pursue a traditional college degree by focusing on the hard skills that employers desire," reads Columbia University's description. "As a result, boot camps can provide an accelerated path to a rewarding technical career.
Jobs in these fields are likely to pay a living wage, according to 2023 pay data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What to do after high school If you're not heading straight to college
Construction apprenticeships
Construction apprenticeships have also increased in popularity, according to federal data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
More than 340,000 people registered for apprenticeships in the construction industry in 2023 – a significant increase over the last five years, according to federal data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The North America's Building Trades Unions', a labor organization that represents more than 3 million people in the U.S., offers construction apprenticeships to those who want to enter the industry.
According to the labor organization's website, workers learn the skills needed to build roads, bridges and other public needs "through a debt-free, technologically-advanced education."
Several jobs in the construction industry are in demand, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Boilermakers earned an average of $71,140 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Construction and building inspectors earned an average of $67,700 in and elevator and escalator repairers earned an average of $102,420 the same year, the federal data shows.
Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fewer people are enrolling in college. What are other career paths?
