The opportunities are endless.

As students across the nation charge up their laptops and double-check their class registrations, a growing number are choosing a different path. With rising tuition costs, the heavy burden of student debt and a shifting job market, many young adults are seeking career-path alternatives to traditional degree programs. Here are four career paths to consider:

• Apprenticeships

  Apprenticeships provide a combination of paid, on-the-job training and classroom instruction. You don’t have to wait years to start earning a living. Fields with apprenticeships include HVAC, plumbing, construction, healthcare, business and hospitality.

• Trade and Vocational Schools

  Trade and vocational programs are often shorter than traditional college programs, lasting six months to two years, usually with a lower price tag. Careers from trade and vocational schools could include welding, electrical work and automotive repair.

• Entrepreneurship

  Social media influencers may make it seem like anyone can earn six figures by buying a couple of pieces of used equipment and going into the pressure washing business. While reality is not as easy as influencer get-rich-quick schemes, some young adults are launching small businesses straight out of high school and building them over the years. Starting a business allows you to create your own opportunities, often gaining critical skills along the way that could be valuable in the future.

• Military Service

  For those seeking purpose, training, leadership development and access to benefits, the United States armed forces can offer a lifelong career to some or a springboard to private sector or government roles for others. Many veterans transition into jobs with leadership experience, hard skills and valuable security clearances.

The back-to-school season no longer means a one-size-fits-all journey into a traditional classroom. Today’s graduating high school students have more options than ever to build a financially stable future in life after the last bell rings. It’s never too early to start helping the young students in your life plan for their future.

Has the young one in your family become a young adult with a need to set up their first checking account? With a variety of checking accounts for every lifestyle, Cadence Bank can help.

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/truetamplin/2024/09/05/is-college-still-worth-it-heres-5-alternatives-to-financial-success
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gen-z-skipping-college-6-223046352.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/15/alternatives-to-college-apprenticeships-are-becoming-more-popular.html

This article is provided as a free service to you and is for general informational purposes only. Cadence Bank makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content in the article. The article is not intended to provide legal, accounting or tax advice and should not be relied upon for such purposes.