College Worth It? New Questions for Students

College has long been viewed as the inevitable next step after high school, a default setting for young adults entering adulthood. For much of my life, I accepted this path without questioning it. I focused on getting good grades and following the lead of those around me, never pausing to ask if college was the right choice for me. Now, as a parent with children facing these same decisions, I find myself asking very different questions. This isn’t about rejecting higher education entirely, but about challenging assumptions and exploring alternatives to help young people make intentional choices rather than blindly following a default path.

The world has changed dramatically since I attended college, and the conversation around higher education deserves a fresh look. The computer age has evolved into the age of artificial intelligence, which has fundamentally altered the setting of future careers. At the same time, fewer careers require traditional degrees than you might think. While some professions absolutely require specialized education and licensure, many employers are removing degree requirements. Instead, they are placing greater emphasis on skills, experience, certifications, and showing competence.

There are also more opportunities through entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, trade careers, certifications, and digital skill development. Many of these paths require less time, less money, and people can start earning money much faster. This shift in the workforce means that a traditional four-year degree is no longer the only ticket to a stable income or a meaningful career. One thing I wish I had known as a teenager is that there were other options. Growing up, I genuinely viewed college as mandatory, like the 13th grade. Other options weren’t even on my radar. I think young people today deserve a much broader picture.

Collectively, American’s hold over 1.6 Trillion in student loan debt. Millions of people carry loans for decades, and many discover (too late) that student debt operates differently from other forms of debt. I personally know people who have already paid back more than they originally borrowed and still owe substantial balances due to interest. The emotional side of this decision is complex for parents. We want our children to be secure, successful, and have opportunities. Because of that, the college topic can become emotionally charged. There’s often a fear that our children will fall behind, miss opportunities, or somehow fail if they choose a different path. But I’ve come to question whether college acceptance is actually a meaningful measure of either our success as parents or a child’s future happiness. What most of us truly want is not a degree hanging on the wall. We want our chi