As summer has officially begun, the season for rising seniors to start their post-secondary planning is upon us. In our current world, the college path is not always a top priority. There are numerous factors behind this shift away from a collegiate education, including the cost of education and the sentiment that a college degree is unnecessary in today’s job market.
ROI on a College Education
The cost of education is at an all-time high and rising. The average cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century alone. In 2025, the average cost of a four-year college degree is $108,584. Modern teenagers see that price tag as a major risk factor when accounting for the fact that a college degree doesn’t guarantee you a high-paying job or a successful career.
Additionally, nearly all of the highest-paying college majors are STEM-based. These majors include engineering, actuarial mathematics, etc. Students who don’t feel driven in these fields or who don’t excel at STEM concepts often feel as though the price of a college degree is unjustifiable.
A study commissioned by EdAssist by Bright Horizons reported that 86% of U.S. workers with education debt believe their degree wasn’t worth it when accounting for the toll that student loans have had on their lives. In all, this idea is a major hindrance to the strive for a college education in today’s youth.
Tool-Belt Generation
Many modern teenagers are also exploring alternative career paths that do not require a four-year education. According to a poll by Junior Achievement and Citizen, 49% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 believe that a high school degree, trade program, two-year degree, or other type of enrichment program is the highest level of education they need for their expected career path. More so, 56% believe that real-world and on-the-job experience is more beneficial than pursuing a higher education degree.
Forms of education like trade school, vocational education and online certifications show prospects for access to steady careers and booming job markets at a fraction of the cost of conventional collegiate studies.
Research by The U.S. Department of Labor shows that from 2012 to 2021, the number of registered apprentices rose 64% in industries like construction, public administration and education.
In all, this displays a shift in the thinking of teenagers away from the idea that college education is the only logical post-secondary next step.
Works Cited
- Dickler, Jessica. “Teens Are Losing Faith in College, Giving Rise to Interest in the Skilled Trades.” CNBC, 16 Sept. 2024, http://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/16/the-toolbelt-generation-why-teens-are-losing-faith-in-college.html.
- Hanson, Melanie. “Average Cost of College & Tuition.” EducationData, Education Data Initiative, 8 Mar. 2025, educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college.
