There could be any number of reasons to opt out of attending a four-year college. Maybe you’ve crunched the numbers and determined that the investment is too big and the risk too high. Maybe you aren’t sure what you want to study and don’t want to be floating around a college campus with “undecided” as your major. Maybe you just feel burned out on school and want to give yourself some time away from the classroom.

Whatever the reason, there is no shame in deferring college for a year or two or going a different path entirely. While today’s high school students (and their parents) have been conditioned to plan for college as the only reasonable way forward, there are certainly other ways to go after graduation. If you or your son or daughter is leaning toward not going to college, here are a few potential alternatives to consider.

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