Have you ever wondered how college degrees came to be so highly esteemed? That little piece of paper is expensive both in time and money, and yet less than half of those who actually graduate college with a bachelor’s degree go on to have a career in the same field of study in which they majored. (1) With such dismal statistics, it is no wonder soon to be high school graduates are increasingly opting out of the traditional higher educational routes in exchange for those that decrease their debt load, steal less time, and provide more job security.
Unless presented with alternatives, however, young adults may not even realize there are alternative paths to obtain both the skills and credentials necessary to launch a successful career they love. The landscape of our society is changing quickly and many employers are shifting back to merit-based hires, (2) and there are entrepreneurial opportunities abounding. Now, more than any other time in history, students really do have the world at their fingertips. Learning doesn’t have to just take place in a classroom setting funneled through the “experts.” The world is changing, and it is time that we change with it.
The History of the College Degree
There are so many things that exist in our society that we never question because we have just become accustomed to their existence. Even if they haven’t been around that long in the grand scheme of history like social security or Medicare, our grandparents may remember the hoopla the ushering in of such policies caused in their time, but to us, it is as if they always existed. We don’t question their existence, we only question what consequences would come in the wake of their absence. College degrees can be included in a similar list of those things we do not question, but just accept as the standard measure of one’s intellect and ability to perform a specific set of skills. It became a status symbol over time.
Good Intentions
That little piece of paper, the college degree, did not become popular until after the G.I Bill in 1944 was passed. This sought to help veterans who had fought in WWII assimilate back into society. During 1950-1960, the sentiment began growing in our society that it was very important that one have a college degree to succeed. By 1965, the Higher Education Act of 1965 was passed as an effort to make higher education more easily attainable by lower and middle class families. (3)
Long story short, by the early 2000’s, “a significant number of employers were adding degree requirements to the descriptions of jobs that hadn’t previously required degrees, even though the jobs themselves hadn’t changed.”(2) This did not mean that the majority of jobs before the 2000’s did not require specialized knowledge. It just meant that the knowledge needed for that career was obtained by other methods, such as apprenticeship.
Bad Consequences
Universities have been around for centuries, but the introduction of the college degree as a required merit for the majority of entry level jobs was novel to the mid-twentieth century. Universities that had once been the center for religious teaching and philosophical debate, turned into institutions that sought to transform students into critical thinkers concerning society, politics, values, and sensibilities not just of their local communities or country, but concerning the world as a whole. (4) Universities that had been religious in nature now reflect secular humanism as opposed to the Christian Scriptures upon which they were originally founded.
To add a little more context to our history of college degrees, decades of pushing Bachelor’s Degrees caused what has been coined as “college degree inflation.”(5) This, among other issues, caused a serious gap in specialized trade careers among plumbers, electricians, welders, etc. There has been a counter surge against this more recently, with once again an increase of interest in skilled trades as they often do offer shorter tracks toward a career, with less debt, and more job security as jobs like fixing toilets and keeping the lights on are sure to be around for generations to come. (6)
The Problems Inherent With The University System
Wake Up, And Smell The Debt
When my husband and I were graduating in the early 2000’s, we were on opposite ends of the United States. We both remember being told by our teachers that as long as you get any four-year degree, you could land a good paying job. For any of you wondering out there, this isn’t true. It turned out that we were sold a bill of goods, while also not being taught good financial habits. This helped us rack up thousands of dollars of debt that took us nearly two decades to pay off. Also for those who might be wondering, the interest that accrued on that original set of college loans was outrageous and completely unnecessary. Because we see where we went wrong, we want to help our children walk a wiser path.
According to USA Today, “In 2023, the average full time student at a four-year college spent nearly $31,000 on their tuition fees, room and board for the year. That number is more than double amount paid for the same education in the 1960s, adjusted for inflation in 2022-2023 dollars.” (7) Depending on one’s major in college and the number of years it takes for one to complete the required credits to graduate – also consider that many students change their majors midway – the costs of attending a university are astronomical.
Alternative Educational Routes
Conventional Solutions
Many soon to be high school graduates see the college debt their parents are still paying off decades later alongside their high-interest rate mortgages and want nothing to do with that kind of life. Young adults are eager to carve their own space in this fast-paced world full of choices. The landscape of our society is shifting quickly these days. What once seemed irreplaceable, like the college degree, has lost its value in many markets because universities are proving to be distracted by those things other than career preparation.
Entrepreneurial Endeavors
Entrepreneurship is on the rise among young adults. Since Covid, Babson College’s Annual Report on Entrepreneurship in the United States notes that over the last decade there has been a sharp increase in entrepreneurial endeavors. “In 2022, 19% of adults were in the process of starting or running a business less than 3.5 years old. This activity continues an upward trend that began in 2015 and only experienced a brief downtick during the first year of the pandemic. Adults aged 18-24 reported nearly twice the rate of entrepreneurial activity compared to those in the 35-64 age group.” (8)
Whether someone wants to start their own business or work for an established entity, without some basic skills in business management and marketing, many will flounder without direction and accountability. It is easy to vacillate between interests if you do not have passion and purpose. Due to the expense that the university system poses, many young adults seek a cheaper education through a trade school or even the military. These are the most common routes of alternative education for those seeking a fast-tracked career, stable income, and job security; however, they are not the only way to bypass the traditional college degree.
The College Degree Is Becoming Obsolete In Many Arenas
Obviously, some fields do require a rigorous, standardized education. There are institutions that scout prestigious universities for students that have proven particularly great in a given field of study. If a young adult desires to go into the medical field or become a lawyer, there is no way around the university system; but for the rest that desire to enter into the realm of sales, marketing, technology, consulting, and more, there are other options available beyond the two or four-year degree with high success rates.
Due to the “inflation of the college degree,” over the past several decades, there are many high school graduates who are opting out of going to college and finding several advantages to blazing their own path to a successful career.
Mitchell Earl from DiscoverPraxis.com lists these in his article entitled, “The Benefits of NOT Going to College”: (9)
- You’ll Save a Lot of Money/Avoid Debt
- You Can Earn Money Instead
- You Could Increase Your Lifetime Investment Earnings by $1.5 million
- You’ll Stand Out to Employers
- You’ll Gain Genuinely Useful Experience
- You’ll Develop Truly Useful Skills
- You’ll Build a Diverse Professional Network
- You’ll Become a Self-Starter and Gain Confidence
- You’ll Learn More, Faster, On Your Own
- You’ll Have Something to Show For All Your Hard Work
Naturally, you might ask, “How on earth am I supposed to make all that happen by myself?” If you don’t know where to begin, it makes it hard to foresee how it will end.
Discover Praxis
We had the pleasure on the Reformed Faith and Family Podcast to sit down with Mitchell Earl of DiscoverPraxis.com, and to hear about the program they offer that prepares young adults for a successful career track no matter their field of choice without the need for a college degree.
What Is Praxis?
Praxis is a rigorous life and career development program for young adults. Its was founded in 2013 and has served many students who have gone on to have successful professional lives in a myriad of career fields. What makes Praxis different is that it provides enrolled students a more hands-on approach to their skill development.
The One-On-One Mentorship
With the help of a one-on-one mentor, over the course of nine months, not only will a student discover career paths that fit their interests, but they will also develop a career-launch plan. A personal mentor walks alongside the student providing educated insight and accountability specific to the student’s needs. By the end of one academic year, each student is capable of putting his or her career plan into action. This is not just preparing them for a strong start, but for a life-time of advancement in the profession of their choice.
The Apprenticeship Model & Building A Solid Professional Network
At Praxis, it is highly encouraged to engage in an apprenticeship style model of learning alongside and networking with those in one’s chosen career field. Students begin by discovering career paths that match their interests. They will set personal and professional goals, followed by lessons that will level up their writing, speaking, and content creation skills. Finally, they will learn how to develop a personal brand all while getting feedback to help them grow and gain confidence.
Start Strong and Stay Successful
By the last few months in the program, students apply the knowledge and skills they have gained by creating a customized “capstone project” that leverages what they have learned into winning real-life opportunities. With Praxis, your student will learn how to conduct a job hunt, start his or her own business, land freelance clients, or launch a side-hustle. Whatever career path is desired, Praxis will aid your student in implementing a plan of action for graduation so they can start strong and stay successful.
Creating Life-Long Learners
As a homeschool mom, interest-led learning is an important factor for me. I believe that children should be taught how to love learning and how to become life-long learners. Praxis promotes that kind of skill set. It is a really unique alternative to the traditional educational model, and I highly recommend it for your consideration.
Access The FREE, Practical Workshop: 5 Tips for Opting Out of College Successfully
For Reformed Faith and Family Subscribers, Praxis is offering this FREE 45-minute workshop: 5 tips for Opting Out of College Successfully. It is packed with tips and exercises to help your teen or young adult thrive in the real world. It will give you just a taste of what Praxis has to offer.
What will you learn in this workshop?
🛠️ How to get your first job and start gaining useful experience
💰 How to create value in a variety of contexts
📈 How to grow your network
🔑 How to unlock career opportunities even without a college degree
💬 Exercises and activities to help you gain clarity about your future
But wait, there’s more!
Praxis is also offering a limited number of scholarships for Reformed Faith & Family subscribers and their families who watch the workshop and then choose to enroll in our program.
CLICK HERE to access the workshop today to secure your scholarship and learn how to opt out of college successfully.
