Growing Number Of High Schoolers Are Opting Out Of Higher Education

[@madreep]

My son is a senior in high school this year. He says he might choose community college but doesn't want a 4 year university. Trade school is fine too. I think he just doesn't know what he wants to do with his life yet and that's okay. I went to college and spent 12 years paying it off just to decide later that social work was not for me. I don't understand why kids have to rush into a lifelong career when they haven't even had the opportunity to live life yet. I want my child to explore different career paths before he chooses one. I'm in no rush to kick him out. All I ask is that he works or goes to school. I don't want him to be out on his own until he has money saved in the bank and a stable job. I want him to know how to budget and manage his finances properly. I don't want him to struggle living paycheck to paycheck trying to make ends meet. He can go to college anytime if he chooses to do so. There's no age limit.

[@blazingphoenix1000]

I wish more parents were like u my moms the same way I still can’t get a job in my field and I have had to live at home and lately I feel like I’ve became a failure because I’m still living there.

[@tritiyo_noyon]

Absolutely spot on.

[@JeroenBIG]

Trades pay good. Social work makes okay money but it's not worth to get in a huge college debt for

[@crazykaitlyn]

Mom of the century!! 12 Years paying for anything is a burden, imagine if you don't absolutely love it, even if you do, it's still a sacrifice. I agree that I wouldn't know my spending habits unless i started to work, it's not always black and white where the money is going, but your behaviors participating in social norms and what you consider out of the question and what's reasonable, aka your values. I'm tired of kids not knowing why they're going cause they don't stand for anything other than to follow the advice of people who won't check on them later after they agreed to a decision only they end up living with.

[@skeptik6707]

Although I do agree for the most of what you said, I believe he should have found a field or hobby he like’s to do. As an example is I loved working on cars with my dad growing up. This made me want to pursue a career in any mechanical field weather it be auto/locomotive. So right after high school I already knew right off the bat what I wanted to do for 30+ years. But I do know over time some people will have doubts and want to change fields and such. But I believe finding out what you’re kids enjoy doing while they are young.

[@a-ronvevo9377]

Nothings wrong with going to college its the fact that we are traditionally taught that we all need to go to college to be successful when in fact college isnt for everyone and especially isn’t the only way to succeed in life. Same people that tell you to go to college are paying debt still from it. How the rich stay rich and poor stay poor.

[@arain764niara]

The main factor is that it's not affordable

[@MayTheOddsBeInYourFavor]

I make significantly more now than I would if I hadn’t gone. The problem is the price tag of the education.

[@Wongseifu548]

Its the Idea realistically of what we do outside of college/trade school that tends to be the deciding factor. Yes Trade schools are seeing a come back but at the same time Trade jobs tend to be more physically demanding then jobs that tend to require 4 year degrees. Realistically its all about what people are willing to do and it depends on what is how 10 years from now and so on.

[@samuelthompson8080]

College isn't bad I encourage anyone to go to college to better them. It's just the financial risk every young person is unaware of and If your parents aren't financially literate you will repeat the same mistakes they did.

[@TheUzamaki1234]

@Beast I'm from the hood as well you're better off going to community college and picking up a trade then going directly to a four year university. At the very least go to a community college first. Also hear me black community specifically go for trades or a STEM major. Excluding biology, environmental science, mathematics and possibly chemistry. Selecting humanities, communication, social work, criminal justice, sociology and psychology. These are the top degrees that my community selects every single year but they pay poorly. HR can pay well.

[@BearingMySeoul]

Exactly! As a member of GenX, a lot of us are still paying off our loans but yet are gonna send our kids to do the same thing 20+ years later? I think not. I say this as a person with a bachelor's and masters degree! I encourage young people to get as much education for free or as cheaply as they can. The important thing is OUTPUT. If you produce good work, academic or otherwise, you'll always be in demand. With the internet, people are able to start ALL sorts of income producing ventures without high overhead. You can become a software programmer using tutorials online and make plenty of money. You can learn a trade with only two years of study via community college. If you've got the mind to start your own company afterwards, THEN get a business degree when you're able to pay as you go. You can learn digital marketing without a degree.

[@jacobsoto7228]

But at least going overseas solves the paying off loans no?

[@BearingMySeoul]

@@jacobsoto7228 Yes but only if you're super confident you won't ever need to come back. Your passport can be revoked if you have high government debts that go unpaid.

[@bocoxgurl]

I am Gen X and earned a stupid sociology degree. I would never wish that on my kid.

[@jathebest2835]

@@bocoxgurl I'm a curious young guy and why do you think so?

[@Wongseifu548]

Again realistically it depends on what you majored rather than just the degree itself. People who went in to get a art degree have a substantially harder time then people who majored in finance, accounting etc then went into the private sector or public service etv

[@NoJokes11B]

I started my career in the food industry as a shelf stocker at a grocery store. Then was promoted to Merchandiser then to a Buyer. A vendor later asked me to join them doing sales. Fast forward to today I’m 36, still doing sales but now in the seafood industry, and make about $150k gross annually. Not bad for someone that didn’t go to college. Find what you’re good at and work hard at it. College isn’t for everyone.

[@trevorbeaverfan]

Spot on, I'm only 22 and I feel like I just want to work right now. I've changed my mind so many times on a career I don't even know which one to go with.

[@AS-rr9km]

Got stuck in the restaurant industry for 8 years. Everyone around me that was my age (young 20’s) was either getting recruited for a better job by a customer by awesome luck, or in school for nursing paid by parents. I always hoped that I would run into someone to make a connection with, I did a few times, but nothing that followed through. After 8 years and trying to pay for school class-by-class out of pocket, I officially committed to the debt. Now it’s getting scary the amount that is racking up. I know I can pay it off one day, but I have plans with my significant other that will now be effected by these loans. It will hold us back for years!! I can’t even beget my BA right now and only have the time/debt for finishing my associates. This world is so expensive now. I was 19 starting out and everything was cheaper, but I had to navigate everything alone. Now I’m 27 and trying to be a lab analyst to get a salary and a secure enough job. I made a lot of money in restaurants, I just can’t stand the industry anymore. But I know I’ll look back both ways, and see either one as my mistake. It’s good to just try both and keep at it.

[@natividadnazario1381]

Good attitude, smart!!!!!

[@jathebest2835]

@@AS-rr9km Thanks for sharing your experience.. What type of lab analyst work are you pursuing?

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Lazy Students

[@Tpeaks]

As a millenial I cant help feeling like we were the experiemental group with university somehow. How much could colleges charge and get away with? How far can they upsell this idea of helping people get better jobs by going in debt for the rest of their lives? Its ridiculous that celebrating paying off student loans is even a thing in the first place. Now that the next gen has seen the effects, they are only taking logical next steps to ensure their own security. Universities is just way too expensive...on top of that, theres cost of housing and food and transportation. If it were more affordable, I truly believe more kids absolutely would go. BUT if someone in that position asked me for advice I would always advise them to at least complete community college and 2 year degrees or certification programs at the very least, in a practical field. Many include internships that have great potential to lead to decent jobs.

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

It wasn't just you. We got hosed on the deal when the Student Loan industry took off during the Nintendo Generation/X. Tuitions tripled in less than a decade, and text books/lab fees went off the rails as everyone started to cash in. Everyone in the 70's: When I was in college, I just couldn't take my professors seriously. Everyone in the 80's: How cool. You got to go to college. We got GED's so we can get pizza jobs early. Pepperoni on that?

[@TheDerangedBlood]

yeah, they don't tell you about all the hidden fees. During the pandemic when students were at home learning, they STILL charged a building use fee. Why?! No one was using the building.

[@homeschoolmomofone2497]

Gen X and the Xennial were sold the same story. I paid cash when I went to CC and got a two year degree which I am currently using for our Construction/Farm Businesses (my husband retired the construction business but we still have the farm) and I also homeschooled our son and he is taking dual enrollment through a vocational college. He will graduate from trade school with no debt.

[@erickbyarushengo4726]

Millennial here. I agree completely. When we were in school, they would mention the importance of going to college. Today, 13 years after finishing high school, they’re pushing kids even more on going to college than they were when I was in school. It’s all good, BUT you’d think then that the common sense approach would be to make sure that college is affordable. Getting a college degree should be a celebrated occasion. But when they have a mountain of student debt to pay off that will take years, if not decades to complete, then they’re not fulfilling the life that they want to be in. In the richest country in the world, people feel the need to celebrate that they’ve paid off their student loans.

[@BrooklynBaby100]

There aren’t any “decent jobs”… companies want to hire people out of college at a couple bucks above the minimum wage. They want the “best and the brightest” but don’t want to pay for the “best and the brightest”. They need to stick with hiring non college people, scammers.

[@rl1271]

Kids are finally waking up to the scam. Good for them

[@TheDerangedBlood]

They are smart to opt out. I've been going to school my entire life. I'm 48 and enjoy learning. There is no difference between high school and community colleges. There is also no guarantee you will find work with a degree. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean your work is good. Professors will rarely tell you if your portfolio is good because they don't care. The institution they work for already have their money. Technical colleges used to be different but they too are falling into the hands of CEO executives who think they know how to run a college. Colleges also don't let teachers teach. The price of education is NOT worth it. You get a better education from the University of KZbin, which most teachers use to teach.

[@smorris281]

What about those employers that say you must have 2 years experience even if you have the degree?

[@jathebest2835]

@@smorris281 lol in that case, I think you should go for an internship first. But what if an intern position requires a certain amount of past work experience?..well that's the problem we're frequently dealing with..

[@raible9554]

Well, let's consider this most nations give FREE college to their citizens here in the U.S. however we charge them to attend colleges that would make our nation more educated and more adept at high-skilled jobs. It's almost like we want our population to suffer while we are going threw an economic crisis, but hey let's ignore that completely right...

[@k333rl]

which nations?

[@diegoruvalcaba8150]

@@k333rl Germany, France. Norway ,Finland, Austria Greece ect. Many developed countries. Yet here they charge people thousands and in debt for no valid reason.

[@jamescampbell9533]

@@diegoruvalcaba8150 they sure do and these countries have VAC at about 25%. You’re fifty thousand dollar car will cost 62.5. Everything you buy is 25% more expensive. NOTHING is free. Anywhere.

[@diegoruvalcaba8150]

@@jamescampbell9533 so what. Literally billions of tax payer money is wasted annually by our government. What are we risking? You know you don't wanna pay for something if you know you could get it free elsewhere. It's more expensive being an American than bieng a European with FREE COLLEGE.

[@AlwayzFresh]

@@k333rl You do have the internet, look yourself lol.

[@grod805]

I graduated college 10 years ago. I've never held a job that required a college degree, it's all about who you know and how lucky you are, not about degrees. Employers don't care about degrees

[@michaellim4165]

There are many employers still requiring degrees. Degrees is a necessary condition but certainly not a sufficient condition.

[@mizzgnaturalkinks]

Tons of higher end jobs still requires a degree. It all depends on what you major in and what you’re trying to go for and who you know

[@TheTruthHurts6666]

Depends on the degree of course. Can't be a nurse or doctor without degree and license...

[@adamrice1087]

Healthcare, education, technology, business, marketing, parks and rec, biology, veterinarian, law enforcement, crime investigation. Yeah, they a care about your degree. It depends on what you want to do, and quite often in adulthood you don't know. That's why we do it. To give yourself options against the competition.

[@MrByronaubrey]

But the professors will indoctrinate their students into thinking that a degree is the key to getting good jobs. Even high school and middle school guidance counselors will even say the same thing. Employers these days want more experienced and talented people, not educated people and its time to stop the this harmful brainwashing that goes on in academic settings, especially to children and young adults whose brains aren't fully developed.

[@yoursubconscious]

we have to admit it, KZbin is our "free" university now.

[@magasaremooks]

That’s why we are all doomed. Mooks are running things.

[@suzanne9150]

And you'll still make crap for wages with just a HS education.

[@ltraingalaxy122]

@@suzanne9150 false

[@jathebest2835]

Especially if you pursue your career change for a software engineer...Tons of good contents out there!

[@sushles]

I went to school for engineering (got a Masters and Bachelors) and got a license to do cosmetology. ...KZbin was a great teacher for both. And I'm not even working in either industry rn.

[@TheseEyesSeeDarknessClearly7]

COLLEGE IS A SCAM. If you aren’t majoring in a STEM field, don’t even bother. And even STEM field graduates have a really hard time finding employment. If your preferred job absolutely requires a college degree, do the first two years in a community college and then transfer. Save on costs.

[@Wongseifu548]

Thats not necessarily true in case of stem people who go into programing, finance accounting engineering have a fairly good chance of finding employment outside of college.

[@TheseEyesSeeDarknessClearly7]

@@Wongseifu548 you're replying to someone who has a computer science degree and have been unable to find a job for a year since graduating. Hundreds of applications sent out, less than 10 interviews and no job offers. You're degree means NOTHING in a field like computer science. It's really about who you know that can put you on. That or you graduate from a top college.

[@Melbester9]

@@TheseEyesSeeDarknessClearly7 Did you do an internship before you graduated? It's usually better to intern first as you then the company will hire you later on. I lost a job offer for a Case Manager position and it was brutal. The nonprofit organization I applied for screwed me over and it was a blessing in disguise. Internships help with networking as well. You have nothing to lose by doing internships in your field.

[@jbar_85]

I did the 2 plus 2 Program at Florida. Where a 2 year degree from a community college automatically accepted you at any public university afterwards. I saved tens of thousands a that way. I also got a degree that I somewhat use and that I barely remembered what I learned lol!

[@tristanrodenhauser5267]

CS is being flooded if your not really talented or going to a top program it may not be worth it Some places are seeing they can get Boot Camp certified people in to door at a fraction of the cost

[@portalomus]

I have no problem with my tax dollars going to state universities, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, etc. Why? Because I like having an educated labor force made up of the most talented people who earned their place, not just the kids of rich parents who can afford to pay 60K a year for tuition. I happen to like having the best doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers, urban planners, architects, etc. because all of those people benefit my community. Even if I never have kids, other people's kids may be the ones looking out for my city/community when I'm older, and I want them to feel supported and not drowning in debt and abused by the system.

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

The Conservatives in the student loan biz want serfs for their Ivy League legacy kids. Not educated competitors. Keeping college expensive is how you make sure the "right" kids inherit the country.

[@citizencoy4393]

Perfectly stated.

[@laurie7689]

I'm not willing to support higher taxes for anything, except maybe national defense.

[@rspen2142]

So, they raise the cost of college yearly, parents make less, thus reducing their ability to put their kids through college, and for the kids, paying back college loans is daunting... The powers-that-be seem not to have the bright idea to reduce the price of college.

[@laurie7689]

As buildings age, maintenance goes up. Professional employees require higher salaries. Nobody is willing to work for less when they can get more elsewhere. Prices increase, not decrease. With inflation, prices also rise. The cost of education is just going to keep increasing.

[@Cj-en4fj]

Bachelor's degrees simply don't have as much value as they use to.

[@crashjz]

Depends on the industry...

[@jayrob846]

Not 1 is worth the paper it waz printed lon

[@medusagorgon9]

Stop preying on these kids! This is an easy fix! Anyone under the age of 25 should have the option of receiving a higher education for free. 26 and up can seek scholarships and other financial aid options. Most graduates struggle to find work! It's insane to saddle these people with overwhelming debt. Nothing but greed.

[@tasha3939]

I wish college was free for everyone most people who go to college got kids and work altogether 😩😭 it’s a struggle and very stressful I have two degrees an associates and a bachelors but since I’m adopted my education was payed for until 25 I’m now 25 and I can’t even go back to school because I don’t have the funds for it applying for scholarships is such a waste 😔 like it’s hard

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

The Obama administration/era of congress put the works in place for Community college to be free. Just 2 problems: 1. Community colleges are still underserved, understaffed, and have wonky course consistency. 2. No one seemed to know about it in the first place. Literally dropped the ball to make it well known. It could have been a magnificent start, at least for 2 year transfer degrees to cut college costs in half.

[@Kekoa552]

Maybe It shouldn’t be completely free but like 500k for college no fking way!!! Something stable like 10k or 15k I know that if we make college free who gonna pay for it and the value will lesser down but I see what you’re saying

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

@@Kekoa552 You already pay for your local Community college. If your annual property tax statements are itemized, read them and you'll probably find it's about halfway down the list. Mine is the #5 expense in my area, far behind the high school and police retirement funds. The sad thing is that classes are generally less than half full. If attending a 2 year junior college was normal for teenagers in America after high school, whether to earn technical trade certificates or transfer degrees, the entire national economy _and_ political landscape would change drastically within less than a generation.

[@Kekoa552]

@@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing you made a good point but over pricing college is just too much I honestly don’t even know no more how we can change since I haven’t researched about this

[@jorgecruz1235]

I have a masters degree and I’ve never been paid more than $30k at a job. Yep, a college degree is not a guarantee of a good paying job. I don’t regret going to college though because I learned a lot, just wish it translated to economic gain not just personal gain

[@michaellim4165]

Just going to college isnt enough. The key is going to college in the RIGHT FIELD with the RIGHT JOB prospects after graduation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) are the current RIGHT FIELDS that will guarantee great paying jobs that will pay off those student debts in no time. Unfortunately, people dont select the right ones and end up dismissing the entire concept of college as a "waste". Perhaps. A waste for some but certainly not for the majority of the others.

[@TheTruthHurts6666]

You sir should look into starting your own business. You're less likely going to be stable and make good money working for someone else

[@Serenity113]

@@michaellim4165 I've read that people who were in the STEM field in college are having trouble finding employment. It seems like no matter what you majored in, there is no guarantee.

[@Beanbean45]

@@michaellim4165 While I somewhat agree I’ve also got to say that finding a job in some of these are still a bit difficult. I just got a job offer today after graduating with my Bachelors in Vet Sci in May 2022. While I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, I’m not starting at a salary I personally believed I was worth. And I know of course, I am fresh out of college, and it’ll be some time before I can start getting a higher pay, but regardless- I put a lot of time and effort into my classes whilist working during that time to get relative work experience. I did fight for a slightly higher pay and go it, so I’m grateful. But going back to the topic, I do want to mention that while it’s good and swell to go for the “right field” I wouldn’t want anyone to feel obligated to work in a field they don’t particularly enjoy just for the money. I know some people hunker down and just “get ‘er done” but I’m proud of this generation of youth for being able to know what they want to protect their sanity and mental health, and to strive for futures where they are happy to get paid for doing what they love. From my experiences meeting the “get ‘er done” type coworkers, they seem to be so drained of life and are just aching to retire which is really sad to me. Life should be about experiences and breakthroughs, not wallowing in self loathing every time their alarm goes off in the morning and they need to down 2 cups of coffee as breakfast to get through the day. That’s not healthy. I do hope things get better and the youth proceed with life cautiously- yet remain open minded. Research to understand what they are about to put themselves through is pretty crucial, and they have the technology to do the background work. If they can do what they wish to achieve whether it be through a simple online certification, community college, trade school, or university- that’s still an achievement nonetheless. They will be happy, and their wallets will thank them!

[@ssjrose9641]

@@Beanbean45 what yous peak off is a myth. From my experience the best you can do is fi d something tour good at and do it well and get paid for it. It doesn't matter if it's your "passion", just do it get paid well. Then leverage the good paying to fund your interests...lol...travel, hobbies (restoring a classic car, martial arts classes, painting, para sailing). Or like me I used my full time job to pay the bills, while starting a small bussines, hopefully I can leave my regular job soon. Lol

[@BR-cq2hm]

Can you blame them? Look at the bleak landscape around us. Their own teachers in primary education are bailing for more high paying jobs that don't require such expensive degrees and so little appreciation. When you're a kid and your own teacher tells you that their higher education was not worth the sacrifice, then....

[@superior120v5]

Those teachers are right!

[@MrKevinwg]

My wife is teacher and I am unemployed with a BS in Accounting and we both agree it is not worth it.

[@Matok1]

The traditional 4+ year degree track is only valuable if you would get a job that income - monthly loan payment = more than you would have gotten without it, which in the vast majority of cases isn't going to be true. The issue is the college just wants you in, they're not going to advise you against taking a 4 year degree in something that has a less than 1% success rate of their graduates. It's the biggest debt scam there is. My recommendation, if you really want a traditional 4+ year degree, do some up front homework, go for a degree that is actually in high demand, and realize that you are still taking a huge risk because you are never guaranteed a job just because you have a degree, so try to have some sort of fall back plan if it doesn't work out. I'd honestly recommend that now a days you just find the cheapest option to get a degree or certification in something and go with that, such as some online courses. As someone who's done some hiring in the past I can say that HR only looks about an inch deep on the resume details when screening them. They say 'oh good, this person has a degree' and typically don't care if you spent $1,000 or $100,000 to get it.

[@Retired_hag]

I’m just learning this now! After 8 years into my industry, I’m landing the same positions as others that graduated from top universities.

[@Wongseifu548]

Again that depends if kids going in did not manage their finances in college, did not have scholar ships/grants and if the parents did not help pay back the loans. Realistically its when they pursue a masters when the loans really hurt but the 4 year degree is actually not that bad. Trade school while popular now has their own down sides as well being substantially higher risk of injury, union fees etc

[@unholydonut]

@@Wongseifu548 Define "not that bad"? Not every parents can afford helping their child and the degree may not get them into high paying professional after the graduate. If the college is so nice and wonderful, this country won't get itself into crisis. The mentality of one must go to college to success or college degree will make you more money must be stopped.

[@youcanthandletheheat]

I find this so awesome. I hope these colleges are FORCED to significantly drop their prices. They sucked American students dry. Crippled an entire generation of millennials from being homeowners and ever building financial security. Now it's finally coming to a head and it's long overdue. I hope students find great jobs and stay out of debt.

[@natividadnazario1381]

False promises from colleges.

[@bearswithglasses]

You forgot that the *real* problem isn't the extreme exploitation of a generation, it's that millennials are actually just lazy and eat too much avocado toast.

[@youcanthandletheheat]

@@bearswithglasses um no that's your opinion. Not all or even the majority of millennials are LAZY. We are obviously pulling our weight bc we are managing to keep Medicare and the social security system afloat aren't we?

[@amjadali6735]

when education becomes a business instead of a right, this is what happens.

[@theLoneWarriorofAllah78611O]

💯

[@thatgui88]

Sort of like healthcare.

[@theLoneWarriorofAllah78611O]

@@thatgui88 💯

[@TheUsername217]

Gotta make room for them international students, since they're the only ones who can afford college now

[@stankssmile5865]

By taking insane loans, international students also get into debts

[@suzanne9150]

Not true. Every HS student should be working and saving for college, applying for grants and scholarships to avoid debt. But the main thing is universities are particular who they let in....YOU must maintain certain grades to even think about getting in. Communties colleges are different......if you got average grades and were not a scholar, start there or think about a trade school. If you like physical work and working with your hands, the country always needs carpenters, electricians, plumbers etc and get into a Union, after all unions built this country and the wages are great. My grandson is a Union trade welder and started at $22 an hour after he graduated from college. He'll make even more once he gets his Journeyman card. Apprentices must work under a Journeyman at least 2 years and study with them to card out. And he gets full health benefits with eye and dental care. Has a 401 K and the company matches up to 5%. I think it's great , he's only 22.

[@littleseamstress]

good for them. the biggest scam in my life was believing going to college would get me a high paying job. all it did was leave me in debt while people who just learned a trade in 9 months are making way more money 😁

[@jayrob846]

Yes!

[@39counting71]

My daughter opted out of highschool and got a GED !! Her safety at school was questionable at best !! She can get jobs and if she changes her mind it will always work to get into a trade school!! The price of college is insane and I'm 40 and just now getting a chance to go back and finish!!! 600% tuition and sticker price increases over just my lifetime the greed is real but not the education level!!!

[@RosalindGash]

Lots of colleges accept the GED in lieu of a HS diploma, so your daughter can opt for college later on if she wants.

[@karlabritfeld7104]

Nothing wrong with trade school. My husband and I both did that in the 1970s. Manageable cost and you actually learn something. My husband is making a high salary now from his trade.

[@bocoxgurl]

My daughter is 16 and is going to get her GED. She currently has one job and is looking for another. She said school is boring and nothing more than a place for teens to hang out.

[@madreep]

I did the same and went to trade school then a few years later went to college anyways. Having a GED doesn't limit you at all.

[@dentatusdentatus1592]

@@karlabritfeld7104 Hmmmmm. Harvard, or Big Bob's Welding Academy? That's a tough one. 😂

[@doyoureadme94]

Also you shouldn't REQUIRE a college degree, to make enough of a living to stay off social services. THAT is the problem. Capitalism cracked this country, I have a hard time considering us 1st world anymore

[@Buggu3]

Then lower the COST for ppl to go to school. Simple math!

[@MsLeonor1968]

Target and Starbucks will cover online university costs. My son works at Starbucks and works minimum 20 hrs there to get ASU online covered. Look into it if you’d like higher education 😊

[@blackshit45]

Or go to community college for 2 years the cost of classes are way cheaper, then trasnfer because after 1 year in college, they don’t require a Sat or act…

[@TheUsername217]

California community colleges are free, and as for materials the state offers grants and work study programs. It's doable, but it would take a separate time and dedication to get these grants and scholarships to get them together, but they're out there!

[@Yandel21ableify]

College is a scam

[@brianholloway6205]

@@blackshit45 it depends on what they want to do, but I definitely agree. This comment is widely supported but these kids need advisors to tell them how and why to do it. Community colleges and high schools where I grew up discussed this but the military was often my classmates choice

[@MsLeonor1968]

Seriously consider getting university education through Starbucks Take advantage of it😊

[@DavidVonR]

10 years after college, I've barely paid any student loans and I've only worked retail, sales or food service jobs. I know tons of people in a similar situation.

[@jayrob846]

Tons you mean millions!

[@Youtuber-qb7rx]

Good for them! Take it from someone who went to college and now regrets it. Learn a trade. Don't go into crushing debt. It's not worth it!

[@Kevin-hu2eg]

The problem with college these days is students lose interest in their field of study. They're forced to taking unnecessary general education classes that has nothing to deal with their major or that they can apply to their daily lives. Parents who send their kids off to college should ask the following: When is my son ever going to use history, philosophy, psychology, music theory, biology in their daily lives. If you want students to take general ed, then have them take math, communication, writing, nutrition, and personal finance. These are essential life skills that will carry them for the rest of their lives.

[@chantra2280]

i urge you to never visit a museum again in your life :)

[@Jibblesssss]

Nutrition is a part of biology

[@ak5659]

What I hated was that you couldn't even take the 101 level courses you wanted to for the requirements. At the college I went to Old English, Beowulf, & Chaucer did NOT satisfy English requirements. Calculus 101 didn't satisfy math requirements. Anthropology didn't satisfy social sciences, etc. But courses that did require prior knowledge satisfied the requirements...

[@dentatusdentatus1592]

@@ak5659 Beowulf? I read that in high school. 😂

[@hibiscushoney3759]

Agree. The essentials for life. Those last things you mentioned.Some of those classes they require is fluff to fill the pockets of the institution. It's not needed in their field of study or major. Waste of time and money.

[@chrisaycock5965]

Went to community college for two years on a pell grant went it came to decide what to do I decided I didn’t know and dropped out. I worked retail for awhile in my 20s. Decided I wanted more went for a technical education got my diploma in electrician work didn’t love it. I decided to turn my focus back to what I knew and after working for multiple years in retail I got afforded a chance to work in a white collar job making over 70k a year and I’ve been in those types of jobs since. College isn’t an end all meets all for everyone and I’m proof of that. I still don’t know what I really want to do but I will say to you younger folks looking at college there are many paths besides college take some time off work a few jobs explore alternatives and make connections.

[@sea1tie1]

Have you seen the prices these colleges are charging? Not everyone wants to have to deal with predatory loans at 17/18 right outside of highschool. I went to a four year right out of graduation, and let me tell you- i wish i had went to the community college first. Same classes for a fraction of the price, you have time to save money and you also mentally mature and become more independent until you decide where you want to study. Just from my experience at least. To each their own though.

[@strawberrytiramisu]

That's what I'm doing. 2 years community college and then I'm probably joining the military to pay for the other 2 years and med school.

[@tashikoweinstein435]

I spent my entire 20s going to college and I barely have anything to show for it! I refuse to waste my 30s the same way!!

[@roachtoasties]

If only a high school diploma meant something. When I graduated high school there were some students who couldn't even tie their shoe but graduated. Maybe if this was different I would say it's OK for some to stop their education after 12th grade. But in reality, a serious education doesn't start in high school.

[@LeahLeah222]

As someone with a post grad degree, college isn’t right for everyone. There are alternative ways to become educated, contribute to society and more importantly satisfied with life, such as trade schools, tech boot camps, apprenticeships, and of course entrepreneurship. Saying that college is good for the economy because it has been in good the past is ridiculous. Why can’t we all take different paths depending on what works for the individual and stop forcing college on 17 year olds.

[@RedShipsofSpainAgain]

This was inevitable. University tuition kept skyrocketing over the past 20 years. Tuition has greatly outpaced both inflation and incomes for college-aged students. The entire Millennial generation became de facto indentured servants from their college debt. Basically financial slaves to their debt. Education can be very useful for employment goals, but there are limits. And we are approaching that limit from a cost to value perspective. Generation Z is not stupid and they are declining to voluntarily set themselves up for a lifetime of paying back student debt. (Trust me, Gen Z: you do not want to find yourself in that situation. It will steal years, if not decades, from your life. And you will never get that time back.) Also most skills of the high demand and lucrative software engineering tech jobs are not taught in college, but rather can be learned just as easily by anyone with a cheap internet connection and sufficient motovation/focus. It's common for software developers to earn 6 figure salaries with no college at all. Companies do not care where you went to school or even of you went: they only care if you have the skills that can help solve their business problems. How you go about acquiring those skills is totally irrelevant. The company doesn't care if you learned to program Java at college or on your own. It's high time that universities start to feel the sting to their annual profits as more 17 and 18 year olds wake up and push back on the cost of attending college.

[@smorris281]

I left college in 2010 because I needed to work full time and I wanted to continue school, but I would not have received full financial aid in the way of grants if I only went to school part time, so I left. I don’t regret it.

[@tibedog5629]

I graduated highschool and the very next day I started my first job. I never went to college. I instead worked a job,got skills, went to another job, got skills, went to another job, got skills, ect. Followed the skills, followed the money. Got a job where I am comfortableish (current issues of the economy an ect has made it difficult and pressing unlike it was before) and have no student debt. Almost everybody I know from highschool are heavily in student loan debt and have kids and ect. They live hand to mouth/well beyond their means in credit card debt/ect. And I dont have any of that because I just worked and got my high pay that way. Not going into debt to get a piece of paper.

[@MrThe1234guy]

It can be more than a piece of paper. Learning is fundamental for happiness. Higher education opens doors otherwise closed to the vast majority of the uneducated.

[@chrissiec2123]

If college is so affordable after financial aid, then why are kids' parents paying off student loan debt decades later?

[@CA2SD]

I wish counselors were held to a higher standard. I believe a great counselor can guide high schoolers transitioning over to higher education. I hear that ppl pursue titles, their parents' dreams, and just the money instead of truly knowing what they really want to do.

[@AMDixon]

It’s fine, international students will just fill in the ranks and take the jobs that require degrees. There is no future where the need for college grads declines - the college graduates are just going to include fewer and fewer American students.

[@simplymj1589]

And when international students or immigrants take over the jobs that require college degrees, Americans will be hating.

[@foxinthesnow1917]

Yep.

[@Joe-ff4if]

That sounds fine until you realize the American H1-B visa system is abused to lower wages in the USA

[@rosebecker9987]

I have my master's degree, and I make FAR less than my husband (who doesn't have any degree). It's not as black and white as this news story is making it seem. As long as a person has a clear goal in mind (and knows the steps to get there), they don't need college. Only go if your field requires a degree (and mine does require at least a master's).

[@RavansFan-u5j]

One reason may be a lot of students especially high school students are skipping school because they do not like school

[@thehapagirl92]

I’m 30 and just finished college. Best decision.

[@nicollehardy5022]

Great decision it will benefit you in the long run.

[@sarbnitrof4663]

It's astonishing how often the news reports on a trend that's been going on since the dawn of time like it's some weird new phenomenon

[@AaronBowley]

you can teach yourself pretty much anything and you can prove your value in any field in a number of ways. there’s very few fields of study where you would still require attending a physical campus or some sort

[@dentatusdentatus1592]

I agree. In fact, I'm studying to be a surgeon online. 😂

[@DrewRueDoo]

College is great. However, college isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. People shouldn’t go to college if they don’t want to. It doesn’t really matter now and days.

[@justinesagan178]

College is too expensive and the jobs only pay min wage. No reason to go to college.

[@tmn8547]

It is super expensive. I got my degree, and now working at the university where I got my degree. Still don’t even pay a living wage! While I like the university, I am going to have to find a better paying job for survival’s sake.

[@MONi_LALA]

I was pushed around during Covid, I was supposed to graduate last year, but due to staffing and lack of support from college, I was dragged for another years. If anyone is reading and you're about to go to college, my advice is to take a gap year or two. If you still don't know what you wanted to do or be in life, go find it. Shadow someone at a workplace you want to work at or do research on that field. I was really rushed to take a major. I wanted to be working in ambassy field but after having an opportunity to visit UN in NY and interviewed some ambassadors, I came back and immediately change my dream career. I was in limbo for awhile and graduating with Global Studies major with communication track and I habe no idea what to do with it. So take it slow, you're a 17,18,19 something, signing your life away should not be something you rushed into.

[@campbellhouse6569]

The price has gone up so much since I got my BS degree 20 years ago. It's ridiculously high. Greed has basically destroyed the middle class.

[@ItsAllAnillusion]

I think higher education should be free.

[@soupdrinker]

Im going for free

[@economicdevelopmentplannin8715]

Income is for raising kids. Most people will only need $5k yearly per person to raise their families. But colleges don't even teach this. As a result, fertility rates are down, and colleges have fewer applicants. They're literally shooting themselves in the foot...

[@SoccerChik1010]

I don’t understand why these young people are opting out of spending $250,000 on a degree in which many of them won’t even use. There’s something wrong with this new generation.

[@Gabster1990]

I graduated high school in 2009. I dabbled in community College but didn't dedicate myself to university studies until I was 24. It's ok not to go immediately into college. See what you like to do first.

[@SaphStitched]

I’m having my kids figure out the career path first to determine if a degree is absolutely necessary like a doctor. If it’s anything other than those types of careers( doctor , lawyer,etc), then I won’t encourage college. If anything, there’s always CC or online courses. I’m in no rush for them to go straight to college after high school

[@Bigmouth660]

Because college cost more than 2 houses.

[@spicysauce_123]

If they’re low on demand for college educated students then make the student debt low or none.

[@Martinmr07]

Our country is collapsing…. Education has now become a luxury…… we are moving backwards not forward….

[@Serenity113]

I don't blame them. With the cost of going to college and also the rich kids parents buying their way in plus nepotism in some career fields, it's starting to become impossible. College/university is for the rich only now.

[@thatgui88]

If you do it correctly then it can be done. Through scholarships.

[@Angel-cv9nc]

Higher education should be a right, as in the whole human knowledge accumulated should not be in the hands of these privatized for profit institutions. Or at the very least, community colleges and trade schools made more affordable/accessible for the newer generations

[@christinehopping]

Kids are smart not to go into debt for a piece of paper. I work full time job, and stay out of debt. Today, I own a house no mortgage, and I went back to school after age 50, and I recently got my Masters in IT. You do not need a degree to make money! You just need to be willing to work work work.

[@RavansFan-u5j]

Getting a degree gets you more experience in the job or jobs you want to have so they are willing to pay you more money to work and they after a year your salary increases

[@ffhjhcgffhhv8097]

Got my degree at a junior college level and still can’t no job, you need a master or a bachelors degree or it’s a waste of time… that being said I support going to college, without a college degree you’ll be flipping burgers or working at a production plant only

[@USNSWE]

I disagree. I dropped out of community college and spent a year learning how to code on my own in 2020. I’m now working as a software engineer without a relevant degree (kinesiology)

[@YourMom-vl2sp]

@@USNSWE but you'll never move up from your position. You're locked in that position for life 🤣😂

[@USNSWE]

@@YourMom-vl2sp almost all tech companies hire based on experience rather than a degree.

[@Yandel21ableify]

College Diploma is worth as much as toilet paper

[@aoclive6710]

@@YourMom-vl2sp that’s absolutely not true . If he can prove he is more productive than his colleagues he will definitely move up and move up fast . My university degree has given me nothing other than my first entry level Job . All my success is due to my sheer ability to outwork anyone surrounding me

[@KLam-mx2fl]

My son graduated from Dartmouth College 2022 and carried $150k student loans. He will need at least 10 years to pay back all the loan

[@vw8886]

College is not for everyone.

[@whitehawk3776]

Why go to college when modern society is about to end?

[@YourMom-vl2sp]

Only in America 😂

[@martinguzman284]

@Brian Kroger lets see XD

[@Coolvideo63]

Right? Especially with All these pandemics.

[@ap774]

I still have nightmares of paying student debt as it took 11 years to pay it off. I took two years off after high school because I really didn't know what to do. During those two years I worked a few simple jobs in retail. Those two years showed me that I needed to go get a degree if I ever wanted to make more. I went to college at 20 and got a degree in engineering and luckily was able to land a six figure job in software right after. I'm making well over that now having worked the same job for nearly two decades and can say it was worth it. But it does depend on what type of career you want to have. I'm certain I would not have been hired for the job I have now if I didn't get a degree.

[@pyimoethan1]

There are so many college graduates who cannot find jobs after they graduate. I am about to graduate. I still cannot find any internships. I wonder how I am going to pay back the debt.

[@Melbester9]

How can't you find an internship? It's easier to get an internship. I know the pandemic made companies cut back on internships but you should still be able to get one.

[@pyimoethan1]

@@Melbester9 thanks for your positive comments. I apply more than 10 intern this summer. I also customized my resume. I also send the messages directly to recruiters. Unfortunately, I don’t get email reply. I wish I should have major in LVN.

[@Melbester9]

@@pyimoethan1 10 isn't enough. You have to apply to at least 50-100+ internships. Companies aren't risking anything with interns since most internships are unpaid but you're getting prepared for the job and eventually if you do well and they like you, they'll hire you full time. I applied to hundreds of jobs and I get couple interviews. Also LVN is fine but RN is better. They get paid more and you have options where you can work as a Nurse. Hospital, Nursing Home, Centers, etc or outside of hospitals and not always in a hospital too.

[@Rinthella]

If you want to go to college please consider going in another country - my college in Germany only cost about 400€ per semester & there was a ticket for public transport included in that amount 😊

[@apl175]

Trade schools, or master/apprentice relationships are a viable and completely honorable way to start a career. There is an overwhelming shortage of trade workers - such as plumbers, HVAC (especially commercial), electricians, certified airplane mechanics (TechOps), etc. These lead to very fulfilling jobs with career progression paths.

[@onsons1524]

I agree 100% since I am in the industry.

[@grimassgrimey5194]

You have to be good to keep ur job not for everyone Union companies are picky penny pinchers on who they keep

[@Joseph-zd7kg]

All the college and highschool drop outs are flooding the comment section advising kids to drop out too. They wonder why the unemployed rate is so high. Stay in school and get an education. High paying jobs are usually offered in combination of work experience and education. Work hard and you will succeed.

[@Lilac914]

It’s going to be a whole new world in about 2 decades.

[@doradestroy]

Why does it matter when the increase in pay would be eaten up by loan payments?

[@tjr-007tt]

I recently paid of my student loans at the end of December 2021, about 10 years after I finished my masters. While college does have its benefits, it’s not for everyone and you must decide if it’s going to be worth it for you personally. I recommend young people coming out of high school to take some time to think about what they want to do. Americans have this tradition of shipping their kids off to college as soon as they graduate from high school which I think is a mistake, not every high schooler knows what they want to do and it can be a costly lifelong mistake. College has become ridiculously expensive and in many cases it’s just not worth it. For me personally, it has been a net benefit, I’ve been promoted several times over the years since and remained employed during the pandemic which allowed me to save and payoff the debt.

[@CoffeeBreakHQ]

Change your headline: High Schoolers choose not to go into crippling debt

[@scoobie8amg]

I was fortunate, my parents paid for college and all of my living expenses. That being said, I believe they paid for me to party. Yes I went to a good school, got a degree, and am now employed but everything I do in my job I learned in the job, not from a college class. College is an experience, not an education. (I graduated college in 2010.)

[@samuelthompson8080]

I'm glad colleges spend millions of dollars on athletics, campus expansion, and etc. Ironically, most of my professors were part-time, didn't have regular office on campus, and often taught multiple classes at the same time to make enough money.

[@ak5659]

You said it! I wanted to teach full time in college. Now I actually make more money interpreting lectures than if I prepared and gave them.

[@fasdfasdf1783]

That’s good news! less competition. My employer pays me extra 10k a year for student loan repayment. 95k/year starting salary. I don’t regret college one bit. I am glad I did it. I am not bragging or claim that I’m successful, but I am comfortable and financially stable.

[@Fidgetbear911]

College is becoming a waste of money at this point.

[@calziz]

We must prepare our children to be able to take care of themselves

[@stephaniecorelli3034]

America is a business. America is all about money. The people are pawns.

[@joyceneville9214]

The biggest issue is indeed the cost! Public college should be nearly free and nobody should have student loan payments that rival mortgages!

[@fmtris8064]

chose not to go, best decision in my life. 6k a month right now at 35 hours week.

[@fadmap9676]

U can thank social media for that, tiktok paying for views, YT paying for ads. I mean 🤷‍♂️

[@valchung296]

About time!

[@kat8838]

Books are nearly free. You don't need their permission to be smart or read them. You just have to locate them. They actually go through great lengths to keep some from us. But we can get around that by finding used textbooks online where they can't censor them . Used to be there was only their bookstores closed to the public.

[@alphapred]

You don't need good grades, only a parent to grease the rails to get you in.

[@L0LrevneD]

Not entirely true. There are plenty of schools that are affordable (by US standards). I go to CU Denver and my tuition this coming semester for four classes plus a lab is about $5k. I live at home and take transit so no charges there. You’re thinking of Ivy League schools which are beyond overrated.

[@kane_7779]

I took a break and learned what it’s like to work full time and now I’m back getting my computer science bachelors degree. I think at least take a class a semester at least ☺️

[@Imjustacatlady]

If our country cared enough about filling the loss of educated workers, adopt Europe's education tactics. No one will go if it means being in $100k+ school loan debt. On top of needing to survive.

[@kellygosa7438]

University is definitely not for everyone. The US needs to stop the overall predatory education system regarding student loans. From my experience with student loans I would never ever allow my kids to take out a student loan.

[@primeexample]

Nobody want to be in corona pox classrooms!!!

[@MayTheOddsBeInYourFavor]

Me: Knowledge is priceless; you cannot put a price tag on getting an education. College: Oh really…*clicks pen furiously* Me: Wait… College: *starts scribbling numbers* Me: HOLD ON A MINUTE College: *scribbles harder*

[@Lser03]

I was not about to go to college because of how bad my counselor were. I literally did all the signing up myself💅 I only needed them because they gave my transcript to the school. I also only depended on my teachers for a letter of recommendation. Also I hope people know more people who are obtaining higher degrees are going for their masters.... Because now you are only guaranteed minimum wage or bellow it after a BA or BS degree

[@straightouttagaming3110]

cause nobody wants to pay thousands of dollars just to end up working at taco bell

[@theblackphantomhd]

This is horrible, cause long term we will see a drastic shortage of teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, etc

[@ilyazhao2418]

In contrast, almost all universities in China are almost free, even in those remote mountainous areas. It seems that I have never heard of a student who was deterred from university because of tuition fees. Some people may think that the education level of Chinese universities is lower than that of the United States, but it has become closer and closer in reality.

[@everythingvideos24]

I got my diploma and graduated with a 3.0GPA. I went back to school to finish my diploma. I had to dropout due to me having seizures. I got that situated with 2 brain surgeries. I've been seizure free 7-8yrs now. I'm currently in college majoring in Broadcasting and Production Technology. I'm doing 1yr radio and 1yr television.

[@carlos10571]

Student debt, duh!

[@Troy-ol5fk]

In Canada because there are too many international students flooding in the quality of the education suffers, schools will hire pretty anyone to be the professor, and spend most of their budget on marketing, it's the best time for this industry but not for its customers/students

[@rachelpatterson2327]

As a recruiter, after high school just get into IT promise you’ll make money, there’s tons of good boot camps out there that are 12 to 16 weeks and if you can build a good portfolio you’ll be able to get a job

[@samanthabenedict7806]

Its too expensive so i dont blame them

[@redvalentinos1933]

That's because the degree IS useless! I watched my dad go to college, rack up $10,000 in debt, and then be offered only non-paying intern positions for his hard work. I warned my girlfriend about it, told her to have a backup plan. Now, she's unemployed, has NEVER gotten a job in the field she studied, is applying to multiple places literally every single day, and is being told by her boomer parents that "You're not trying hard enough." This girl doesn't relax unless she's actively working. The stress and headache of not being able to find work breaks her down into tears constantly. She's actually gotten formal "Please stop applying to us, we're not actually hiring" letters. She WANTS to work! She WANTS her own source of income! She WANTS to be a functioning member of society! So yes, going to college in this day and age is POINTLESS! Your best bet is a trade. Dad did college, landed in debt, and is now a carpenter. And don't think Jesus with his little wooden hand tools. He's in full blown construction and hard labor. I cannot possibly understand why people decided trade skills were worthless. They're anything but. It's hard back breaking work, but people will always need a place to live, they'll always need hospitals, they'll always need the infrastructure of fire departments. Walls, roofs, floors, ceilings, plumbing. Your connection dies, all those computer geeks are a waste of space and money. When or if society collapses, they'll be the ones begging because they have no skills of value. You need your trades, you need your seamstresses and your crafters. At this point, college is literally a money making SCAM because it also ensures there's another generation of minimum wage slaves in indentured servitude.

[@dentatusdentatus1592]

It's not that college is a scam. It's just that college isn't for everyone.

[@michaellim4165]

Just going to college isn't enough. It's a necessary condition but not a sufficient condition. The key is going to college in the RIGHT FIELD with the RIGHT JOB prospects after graduation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are the current RIGHT FIELDS that will guarantee great paying jobs that will pay off those student debts in no time. Unfortunately, people don't select the right ones and end up dismissing the entire concept of college as a "waste". Perhaps. A waste for some but certainly not for the majority of others.

[@riskingrain1560]

Oh you sure seem fun. That's because people shouldn't also be forced to pick STEM majors if that's not what they're interested in or passionate about. If people end up going for something they didn't even want that will just end up in miserable careers in their lifetime that won't even enjoy and probably won't put that much effort into said STEM career. The concept of STEM should be taken seriously considering it's now become an essential part of our world and will continue to do so, and if we end up with a bunch of people who don't take it seriously, we will be left with like a bunch of idiots playing around with a stick. For example if so happens someone just picks the career of being an architect, despite not really having no ounce of dedication in it as well not really having an interest in the math, science, and engineering behind it and only took just because to quickly pay off debt, there's a chance they won't take it as well compared to someone who actually has passion and is actually determined in the field. And it could result to them atleast do what needs to be done to pass through the classes but perhaps not the career itself. As them doing the math or science wrong only for the building to fall down or fail safety inspections and get themselves fired having it all to be a waste. There should only be a thing of "right field" or "right job" if only feels right to you, and not just cause it ends up to be job that can handle all the financials and give you financial freedom quickly. The entire concept of college should of been what it always should- be open doors towards a career choice YOU want and feels right to YOU. Not because of society demands it and is willing to pay well for it. Besides it's a dumb idea anyways for a majority of college students to chose STEM, only to over fill the job market, perhaps resulting in making the classes to become even more difficult and as well as institutions finding a way to put a higher price for it. Considering it's obvious how much higher education in this country is run by greed.