Not everyone needs to go to college.

Many young persons who hit the college trail should not. College—like the military—isn’t for everybody. But some form of postsecondary education (beyond high school) is increasingly vital to your personal economic security.

One size doesn’t fit all.

A bachelor’s degree is not a smart investment for every student in every circumstance. Of freshmen at four‑year colleges who graduated in the bottom 40% of their high-school class, career counselors tell us two-thirds won’t graduate. And even if such students defy the odds, they will likely graduate with a low GPA and a major in low demand by employers. For these students and others, career and technical education (CTE) is often a good option.

CTE is a great alternative.

CTE (also called vocational-technical education or VTE) is postsecondary education at the community college level that focuses on practical career preparation rather than academics. It provides students with knowledge and skills that are relevant for the job market and offers the possibility of rewarding careers, good-paying jobs, and college opportunities. Training is offered in many challenging fields such as agriculture, trade and industrial, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, public safety and security, and technology.

Employment prospects are excellent. The Council of Economic Advisers (2009) projects faster-growing demand for those with a two-year technical-college degree, or specific training, than for those with a full university degree. By 2020 an estimated 30% of job openings will require some form of postsecondary education, according to America’s College Promise Proposal (2015). Although increased focus is on earning credentials based on demonstrated skills rather than simply time spent in a classroom, many labor economists predict a shortage of new CTE graduates. That spells opportunity!

Myths about CTE.

People sometimes dismiss CTE programs as poor substitutes for a “real” four‑year college education. Bupkis. This line of thinking is perpetuated by several misconceptions:

• College is for everyone. Wrong. Eighty-five percent of parents see college as an investment in their kids’ future, officials say. Yet, while 70% of high-school graduates will follow that path (up from 40% in 1970), only about 30% will earn a degree 10 years later.
• You lack the smarts to get into college. No. Some simply don’t see the relevance of what they’re being taught in a typical college curriculum to the real world. Everything a student learns in CTE is relevant to applying for and getting a job and being successful in a career that interests them. They just forgo the fluff.
• Diploma to nowhere. Many students believe if they get grades of B or C in the college-prep track, they are well-prepared for college. Bad assumption. Such confidence is often exaggerated (superiority trap*). An estimated 43% of community college students require remediation, as do 29% of students at public four‑year universities.
• You can’t get a degree from vocational schools. Yes you can. Many CTE programs offer two-year associates degrees, with courses that can be credited toward four‑year college degrees. Students can earn their associates, enter the work force, and complete a four‑year degree in the future if they wish.
• You need a college degree to get a well-paying job. Wrong again Waldo. Many technical training programs have better placement outcomes than college degrees and the pay for skilled technical workers can be very competitive. Did we mention paying off your student loans?

Regrettably, corporate America has not been helpful. Many who were unemployed during the recession opted to go to college. Now, with many graduates to choose from, employers increasingly turn their noses up at anyone who does not sport a degree no matter what the job’s requirements. The untold story is many graduates of four-year colleges come to community colleges after graduation for training in an actual field.

Blue-collars also benefit!

The high levels of reading, math, and science literacy needed to graduate from college are also needed for high-paying blue-collar jobs. Welders, for example, need strong trigonometry skill. Machine tool and die makers are often the same kind of top math students that go into the tech sector. Emergency responders must master how to make rapid life‑saving decisions. And going to college can make you a better plumber than you would have been otherwise. Why? You will often need to interact with customers and clients who are themselves college-educated.

* Questionable beliefs can “trap” our better judgment, leading to poor decisions and unintended consequences. In the superiority trap, we often exaggerate the extent of our knowledge, ability, or memory in the belief that we are better than average in most things we do. Learn more about this, and other traps, in the Young Person’s Guide to Wisdom, Power, and Life Success.

Image credit: “Three firefighters standing in front of fire engine” by Cathy Yeulet, licensed from 123rf.com (2015).