The College Debate: Why Higher Education May Not Be the Only Path to Success

In an era where the cost of higher education continues to soar, a growing chorus of voices—including prominent figures from across the political spectrum—are questioning whether a four-year college degree remains the optimal path for all young Americans.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon recently articulated this perspective in an interview with Yahoo Finance, stating, “I don’t think [college degrees are] necessary for all professions today.” While acknowledging that certain careers—such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers—still require traditional university education, McMahon emphasized the value of “skill-based learning” as an alternative pathway.

“Students in middle schools and high schools who go to college because maybe their parents said ‘Boy you really need to go to college in order to make a good living’… they don’t have to,” McMahon told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sazy at the Global Milkin Conference. “They can do other kind of schooling, get right into the workforce, and I think that’s an important cultural rethink that we should have relative to education.”

This sentiment finds surprising support from Randy Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who recently authored an essay for The New York Times titled “Stop Trying to Make Everyone Go to College.” Despite disagreeing with McMahon on numerous policy issues, Weingarten sees common ground on expanding educational pathways.

“What we’re seeing is that when kids graduate in pre-apprenticeship programs or industry stackable credentials from high school with credentials in cybersecurity or in advanced manufacturing or in nursing or in culinary or in some of the trades, there’s a 95% graduation rate,” Weingarten explained. “And 70% of those kids go on to college.”

The statistics tell a compelling story. According to Weingarten, recent Wall Street Journal reporting shows that students can secure pre-apprenticeship or direct jobs paying $70,000-$80,000 immediately after high school. Meanwhile, 40% of high school graduates don’t pursue college at all, and only 60% of those who do enroll actually complete their degree within eight years.

“Let’s open up the aperture,” Weingarten urged. “Let’s have high school be a gateway to both college and career.”

This perspective is gaining traction as workforce needs evolve rapidly. Weingarten highlighted collaborations between educational institutions and major employers, citing partnerships with Micron in New York across ten school districts to create pathways to advanced manufacturing and microchip production, as well as initiatives with Bloomberg Industries in healthcare.

The debate extends beyond mere affordability concerns, though the rising cost of college remains a significant factor. “The issue is the affordability of college is an issue, but it’s more than the affordability,” Weingarten noted. “It’s that some kids actually… you have to meet kids where they are and you have to meet their wants and aspirations and create a whole bunch of different career paths for them.”

She shared the example of a student from New Lexington, Ohio, who aims to open an electrical business and is progressing from high school directly into a journeyman apprentice program. “Those are really good jobs and they require really important skills,” she emphasized.

However, Weingarten cautions against viewing privatization as the solution. Referencing past problems with unregulated trade schools that failed to deliver on promises, she advocates instead for stronger alignment between public education, industry needs, and government resources.

“The issue really is not the privatization. We need industry to be aligned with us and to work with us more,” she said. “The issue is how do we use a public school system to help all kids be prepared for their lives and careers.”

As the national conversation around education evolves, the emerging consensus suggests that success in tomorrow’s economy may require a more diverse array of educational pathways than the traditional four-year degree that dominated previous generations.