Skipping College for Careers: Why More Young People Are Choosing Purpose Over Prestige—and Why Parents Should Pay Attention

By now, you’ve probably heard the buzz: more and more young people are rethinking the traditional four-year college route—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Take Nush Ahmed, for example. At just 22, she made a bold decision to step away from the expected path and enroll in a career technical education program—800 miles away from her family in Buffalo, New York. Her Bangladeshi immigrant parents, like many well-meaning folks, had visions of her becoming a doctor or engineer. But Nush had a different calling.

And that, my friends, is what this is all about: listening to your internal compass instead of external expectations.

She completed a program at the Universal Technical Institute in North Carolina and now works in precision manufacturing, earning about $60,000 a year—and loving what she does. She even hosts a podcast to encourage others to explore trade careers. That’s living with clarity and purpose.

Her father, initially skeptical, now says: “If kids want to try a short-term school, they should let them do it and see how it goes… They should follow their dreams.”

That’s a refreshing message.

The Numbers Tell a Story

According to data from American Student Assistance, only 45% of teens say they’re interested in college at all. Fourteen percent are already planning to attend a trade or apprenticeship program, and another 38% are seriously considering it.

But here’s the disconnect: while students are open to nontraditional paths, many parents are still stuck in the “college-or-bust” mentality.

In fact, Gallup data shows most families don’t even realize the wide range of viable career options outside the ivory tower.

That’s a problem. Especially when student debt continues to soar—college tuition has doubled since 2000. Compare that to the $15,000 average cost of a trade school program, and the math becomes very real.

What’s Driving the Shift?

For many young people, it’s a combination of factors:

• The burden of student debt

• A desire to work with their hands and make a real-world impact

• The opportunity to earn while they learn through apprenticeships

Just ask Andrew Townsend, a recent high school grad in Colorado who turned down college to take an 18-month manufacturing internship with Lexmark. “I want to get my hands dirty,” he said. “Maybe I’ll go to college later—but for now, I want to build something meaningful.”

And isn’t that what work should be?

A New Vision for Success

As someone who’s spent decades helping people find meaningful work they love, I believe we’re witnessing a much-needed mindset shift. Young adults are realizing that work is not just about status—it’s about purpose, passion, and contribution.

In fact, during his presidency, Donald Trump signed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, giving states and communities more support to expand these programs. Regardless of politics, this was a step in the right direction.

Because the truth is: college isn’t the only path to success—and for many, it’s not even the best path.

Final Thoughts

Parents, let me encourage you—don’t let fear guide your conversations. Help your kids discover who they are and what they’re wired to do. Whether that’s building a business, designing 3D-printed prototypes, or fixing cars—there’s honor and opportunity in all of it.

And young people: you have options. College, trade school, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship—it’s all valid. Don’t just follow the crowd. Follow your calling.

As Nush’s story shows, when we lean into our uniqueness, we open doors we didn’t even know existed.

Adapted with gratitude from original reporting by USA TODAY.
For more inspiration on finding work you love, visit 48Days.com.