eneration Z is breaking away from the traditional path to success. Once seen as a must-have, college degrees are losing their appeal as soaring tuition costs, crushing student debt, and a turbulent job market push young adults toward alternative routes.
From trade schools to self-taught tech skills, Gen Z is redefining what it means to build a career. This blog explores why Gen Z is ditching degrees, backed by recent surveys and expert insights, and highlights the new paths they’re forging.
The Falling Allure of College
The idea that a college degree guarantees a stable career is fading fast. Gen Z is entering a world where automation, AI, and a competitive job market have diminished the value of traditional higher education.
A 2025 ResumeGenius survey of 1,000 Gen Z workers revealed that 25% regret attending college, with many wishing they’d chosen high-demand fields like tech or healthcare instead. Only about one-third were satisfied with their educational choices (ResumeGenius, 2025).
Similarly, a Tallo survey of over 2,000 young adults aged 18-30 found that 62% aren’t working in their intended fields, and 25% struggle to find relevant jobs (Tallo, 2025).
Experts point to a shift in the job landscape. “The market has changed,” says career coach Kolby Goodman. “Degrees used to open doors automatically, but now, with fewer entry-level jobs and rapid technological shifts, there’s no such guarantee” (Goodman, 2025).
For Gen Z, the promise of college as a one-way ticket to success feels like a relic of the past.
The Financial Reality Check
The cost of college is a major deterrent. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost of college in the U.S. now exceeds $38,000, more than double what it was two decades ago (Education Data Initiative, 2025).
With over 4 million Gen Zers unemployed and blaming “worthless” degrees, the financial burden is hard to ignore (ResumeGenius, 2025). Student debt has become a looming specter, with many graduates facing decades of repayments without the job security to match.
Parents are also rethinking the college push. A 2025 American Student Assistance survey of over 3,000 teens showed that 70% say their parents support alternatives like trade schools or apprenticeships (American Student Assistance, 2025).
“The ROI just isn’t there anymore,” says career strategist Trevor Houston. “The cost is astronomical, and the job market is a gamble” (Houston, 2025).
A New Playbook: Alternatives to Degrees
Gen Z is pivoting to practical, cost-effective paths. Trade schools, offering training in fields like plumbing, welding, or carpentry, are gaining traction for their affordability and direct pipeline to in-demand jobs.
Online platforms like Coursera and YouTube are empowering self-learners to master skills like coding or digital marketing without a degree. Entrepreneurship is also on the rise, with Gen Z leveraging social media to launch businesses or freelance careers.
The influence of technology can’t be overstated. “AI and automation are reshaping even ‘safe’ fields like engineering,” says Gen Z career advisor Colin Rocker. “Young people see that and wonder why they should invest in a degree when they can learn skills online or go straight into a trade” (Rocker, 2025).
This flexibility appeals to a generation skeptical of rigid, expensive systems.
Cultural Shift: Redefining Success
Gen Z’s rejection of degrees reflects a broader cultural shift. They’re demanding education systems that prioritize affordability, relevance, and adaptability.
Many are bypassing college to avoid debt and enter the workforce sooner, while others are blending learning with earning—think coding bootcamps or apprenticeships that pay while you train.
This pragmatic approach is forcing institutions to rethink how they deliver value and prompting society to respect non-degree paths.
Gen Z is ditching degrees not out of apathy but out of necessity and pragmatism. With college costs soaring and job markets shifting, they’re turning to trade schools, self-learning, and entrepreneurship to build fulfilling careers.
This generation’s bold choices are challenging the status quo, proving that success doesn’t require a diploma—just determination and adaptability.
References
ResumeGenius. (2025). Gen Z Worker Survey on Education Regrets.
https://resumegenius.com/blog/career-advice/gen-z-career-prospects
Tallo. (2025). Young Adult Career Path Survey.
https://tallo.com/the-resource-gap/
The Resource Gap: Insights on Young Professionals’ Critical Career Decisions – Survey of over 2,000 young adults.)
Education Data Initiative. (2025). Trends in U.S. College Costs.
https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college
(Average Cost of College [2025]: Yearly Tuition + Expenses – Updated analysis of U.S. college costs exceeding $38,000 per year.)
https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college-by-year
American Student Assistance. (2025). Survey on Parental Support for Non-College Paths.
https://www.asa.org/research/teens-next-steps-report-2025/
Teens' Next Steps: What Young People Need for Life After High School – Survey of over 3,000 teens on post-high school plans.)
Goodman, K. (2025). Quoted in Fortune. (Kolby Goodman interview on college regrets and job market uncertainty.)
https://fortune.com/2025/07/20/gen-z-regrets-going-to-college/
(Gen Z has regrets: 1 in 4 say they wish they hadn’t gone to college or would’ve picked a higher-paying industry.)
Houston, T. (2025). Quoted in Fortune. (Trevor Houston on declining ROI of college.)
Same article as above: https://fortune.com/2025/07/20/gen-z-regrets-going-to-college/
Rocker, C. (2025). Quoted in Fortune. (Colin Rocker on the Catch-22 for Gen Z career choices.)
Same article as above: https://fortune.com/2025/07/20/gen-z-regrets-going-to-college/
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