It is more expensive than ever to go to college. That fact is driving teenagers to think about options other than a four-year degree, but many high school students who would benefit most from these alternatives are not even aware of the full scope of options that exist.
That is the conclusion a team of researchers from the Rochester Institute of Technology and other institutions, including the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship, drew from open-ended interviews with 80 high school students. The Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) provided support for the study. Among the questions the researchers sought to answer were: how aware are students of the full scope of post-secondary education options and how do influencers — everyone from parents to friends and counselors — affect students’ post-secondary decisions?
Regarding the first question, the researchers found, “in general, students had virtually no substantive knowledge of alternative pathways,” such as stackable credentials and academic and workforce options like certificates, micro-programs, and bootcamps; vocational training; apprenticeships; and formal or Informal training programs.
When asked about alternatives to college, one student responded, “I don’t know. I really don’t have an alternative, and I never thought about that. … I don’t know what I’d do.” The researchers interviewed parents and school counselors as well, and they also showed low awareness of pathways other than college.
To boost awareness, the researchers also offered several recommendations, including:
- Developing programs that target K-12 students and their families that explore alternative postsecondary education pathways and the return on investment from these pathways;
- Developing professional development programming for K-12 teachers and counselors that enhance awareness of alternative postsecondary pathways;
- Adding bifurcated counselor roles in which dedicated and specialized postsecondary advisors are buffered and separated from the urgent and overwhelming everyday realities of supporting student mental health and instead can concentrate on helping students think about their lives after high school; and
- Providing upskilling for counselors on non-traditional postsecondary pathways.
“For too long, Americans have been told the only path to a fulfilled life and the American Dream is a four-year degree,” said CKF Executive Director Ryan Stowers. “I think that’s always been a false narrative, but in today’s dynamic economy it’s certainly not true. Whether through an upskilling platform, on-the-job training, or an apprenticeship program, there are many educational pathways that lead to a career of contribution. We need to do a better job of making students, and the people who influence them, aware of these options.”