After the pandemic, my nephew Kevin graduated from high school. Instead of following the traditional path of applying to a four-year college—as many in our family had done—he chose to enroll in a local electrician training program.
At a family dinner, when he told us about his plan, the room went quiet for a moment. For our generation, college has always been seen as the “safe route” to a good life. But Kevin just shrugged and said, “I don’t want to wait four years to start making money. And honestly, I hate sitting in a classroom.”
As someone who’s worked in finance for over two decades, I’ll admit—my first instinct was worry. Would he regret it? Was this too impulsive? But just a few months later, I saw him thriving in an apprenticeship with a construction company, earning $24 an hour, hands-on, engaged, and far more confident than many of my clients’ kids who were freshly out of college and still applying for entry-level jobs.
And Kevin’s not alone.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college enrollment among recent high school graduates dropped by 4 percentage points between 2019 and 2024. That’s a major shift. The pandemic didn’t just disrupt schooling—it pushed people to reevaluate the return on investment of a college degree.
Meanwhile, Google searches tell their own story. Since 2021, searches for “trade school” have jumped 117%, and “apprenticeships” are up a staggering 231%. People are clearly looking for faster, cheaper, more practical ways to launch their careers.
I have a friend in Atlanta whose son David went straight to a local auto mechanic school after high school. Less than two years later, he’s opened his own small garage. It’s not flashy, but he has steady business and a consistent cash flow—something his college-educated cousin, still job hunting, can only dream about.
A recent report by K12, an education company, tried to answer the question: which cities in America are best for young adults who choose not to go to college? They ranked 100 major cities based on:
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The number of high-paying jobs that don’t require a degree
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The average hourly pay for those jobs
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Public interest in alternative education options (measured through online search data)
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Availability of trade schools
Surprisingly, it’s not just the usual big cities that top the list. A handful of Texas cities are outperforming: Irving ranks #1, with Dallas and Garland not far behind. These places are booming with skilled jobs in logistics, manufacturing, and energy—all of which care more about your hands-on ability than your diploma.
Washington, D.C. ranked high too, thanks to strong job opportunities and pay, even though it’s not known for its trade school infrastructure. Meanwhile, Minneapolis and Denver offer a good balance of salary potential and training access.
I visited a young guy named Andrew in Denver who graduated from high school and trained in CNC machining at a local community college. He now works at an aerospace parts company, earning over $70,000 a year—debt-free. He told me, “My proudest thing is, I didn’t cost my parents a dime.”
That said, I don’t believe college is useless. It still pays off in the long run—statistically, degree holders earn more over a lifetime. But the real question isn’t about averages. It’s about you. College costs have soared, student debt is crushing, and for many, the return just isn’t what it used to be.
In 2023, a University of Chicago survey found that two-thirds of Americans now believe you can get a good-paying job with just a high school diploma or GED—up from 50% before the pandemic. That’s a major mindset shift.
And companies are catching on. Tech giants like Google, IBM, and Tesla have all publicly removed college degree requirements for many roles. Instead, they value your skills, your experience, your portfolio. In fact, I’ve seen clients with coding bootcamp certificates land software jobs faster than CS majors stuck writing resumes.
Take Kayla, the daughter of one of my clients in Orlando. She enrolled in an 18-month radiology tech program and was hired by a local hospital right after graduation. She now makes over $35 an hour—debt-free. Her cousin, a college grad with $60,000 in student loans, is still working part-time retail.
Even in high-cost cities like Los Angeles and Anaheim, blue-collar careers are booming. Film set construction, stage lighting, high-end auto repair—none require a degree, all require real skills. And trade schools or apprenticeships are preparing the next generation to take those jobs fast.
This forces us to rethink what a “good investment” looks like. From a financial perspective, traditional college is no longer the automatic best bet. For some, especially those unsure of their direction or facing tight finances, entering the workforce or learning a skilled trade may be the smarter, lower-risk move.
So when a young person says they don’t want to go to college, maybe we should pause before criticizing them. Maybe they’re just seeing where the world is already headed—and getting a head start.
College is still valuable. But it’s no longer the only ticket to success. Across America, in cities you might never have guessed, young workers with the right skills—and no degree—are quietly winning.