Choose a career path

Unsurprisingly, it will be easier to choose a postsecondary path if you have a career in mind. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start. Search potential careers by pay, level of education needed, growth rate and more.

The average bachelor’s degree recipient earns 168 percent of a high school diploma holder’s salary, according to an analysis by the Hamilton Project, a policy initiative affiliated with the Brookings Institution. But a bachelor’s isn’t the only path to good pay.

Aircraft mechanics, for instance, enjoy median earnings of about $60,000 a year with a mechanic’s certificate and 18 months of experience, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By contrast, the bureau says that’s also how much teachers, social workers and nutritionists make with a four-year degree.

A career, of course, isn’t just about making money. The most fulfilling jobs offer autonomy, variety, and opportunities for on-thejob training and advancement, says James Rosenbaum, professor of education and social policy at Northwestern University.

Consider taking small steps to a degree

Carnevale and Rosenbaum advocate for incremental education, especially for students who don’t have the money to pay for a four-year education outright or who have concerns about graduating on time. Consider alternative college paths : Start with a one- or twoyear certificate at a trade school or community college, get a job at a company that offers tuition assistance, and pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree while you work.

“We definitely see that pathway of earning a certificate and then continuing on to earn a degree after that has grown,” says Doug Shapiro, executive research director at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Make sure both the school and the program of study you choose are reputable. Check that they’re accredited and licensed, if applicable, using the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

And if this all feels complicated, know that it’s not just you.

“It used to be pretty easy: If you didn’t want to go to college, you didn’t; you could do just fine if you didn’t,” Carnevale says. “Now you’ve got to go on to some kind of postsecondary ed, and the choices you make matter a lot.” This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Brianna McGurran, a columnist for personal finance website NerdWallet.com. • NerdWallet: 4 alternatives to traditional college https://nerd.me/traditionalcollege-alternatives • Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ • U.S. Department of Education: Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/