Every year, we get a lot of questions from students and their families about more affordable and flexible college options.

Here are some of our favorite alternatives to traditional college that can help you finish sooner, save more money, and have a flexible college schedule.

1. Take online courses

A 2019 survey found that 60% of students enrolled in online courses say their school has taught them soft skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and writing skills, that employers desire. The survey also found that 84% of students agree or strongly agree that their online education was worth the cost.

So why not take some of these flexible courses? Depending on transfer policies, it’s possible for you to take online courses from any number of schools and transfer those credits to the school you want to graduate from.

2. Work for a company with tuition reimbursement

Many companies offer college tuition reimbursement for employees who are going to school. From Amazon and Apple to Starbucks and Siemens, these educational benefits are a great way to make college more affordable. Often, the degree major you choose doesn’t even have to be related to your job at the company. To get you started, here are 10 companies that offer tuition reimbursement.

3. Use competency-based courses

Competency-based college alternative programs are rapidly growing, signaling a radical change in higher education. Competency-based education measures a student's knowledge and skills instead of simply how much time they spend in a classroom.

Programs such as the University of Wisconsin’s Flexible Option or Prior Learning Assessments from Thomas Edison State University are making it easier for students to get college credit for the knowledge and skills they’ve learned outside the classroom.

4. Use adaptive learning

Innovations like ALEKS harness artificial intelligence to customize learning anywhere in the world. Better yet, for only $20 per month, they offer college credit for subjects such as statistics, algebra, and math for a fraction of the cost of traditional classes. For many students, this means you can take your transcript from ALEKS directly to your university

5. Focus on skills-based training

College isn’t the only way to build your skills. To make your resume even more impressive, you can spend the time and money you save on your lower-cost degree on targeted self-study of the latest, industry-specific skills. Sites such as LinkedIn Learning and Duolingo offer low-cost or free online courses on everything from Excel and coding to foreign languages and graphic design.

Upon completion, you can receive certificates to demonstrate your proficiency to a future employer. Several massive open online course (MOOC) providers such as Coursera and Udemy are also in on the certificate trend.

6. Create a portfolio

Many fields such as graphic design, computer programming, journalism, music, and film are heavily favored toward students who have demonstrated experience. Most employers in these kinds of fields want to see a portfolio of work that you’ve completed, not a mere degree. And you don’t need college to start building a winning portfolio, particularly if you can find great mentors in your field.

7. Get credit by exam

By utilizing CLEP, DSST, and other exams for credit, you can complete general education topics at your own pace. You can buy study books to help you prepare, use a test prep tool to practice, and then drop in to your local college testing center for the 90- to 120-minute exam.

If you know all of the material, why should you pay full price to sit through an entire semester of it?

8. Find industry-specific training

In fast-changing technological fields, colleges aren’t always nimble in responding to current employer needs. That’s where training boot camps come in. A growing number of technology careers do not require a degree, but rather they prefer certifications from sites like Codecademy or skills that can be learned through mentors and real work experience. There’s no college involved here, yet this training can still lead to very good jobs.

9. Find internships

People may assume that internships are only available to college students, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Adult internship opportunities are available to people of all ages and educational backgrounds—if you know where to look.

If you want to land an internship, start by searching within your network. Do you have friends, neighbors, or family members who could help you get a training opportunity? You can also search for internships on LinkedIn, and by joining a professional association for the field you’d like to work in.

Remember that adult intern candidates have two key advantages. First, they tend to demonstrate higher levels of professionalism than their younger counterparts. And second, adult interns often have fewer scheduling restrictions than college students.

10. Start a business

Do you have an idea for a unique product or service that solves a problem and makes people’s lives easier? If so, you might be able to turn your idea into a full-blown career. For example, the Home Edit was founded in 2015 by two women who wanted to start a home organizing business. Today, the company has more than 3.9 million Instagram followers and a recently released Netflix series.

Airbnb was founded by three roommates who were struggling to pay the rent for their San Francisco apartment. A large conference was scheduled to take place in the city, and since the city’s hotels were fully booked, the men decided to rent out air beds on their living room floor. If you have an idea that you think is marketable, you might be able to turn your idea into a career.

There you have it: 10 alternatives to college that can help you make an efficient and flexible transition to a fulfilling career.

Recommended Readings

Is College the Best Way to Get an Education?

How to Find Online Classes While You’re Social Distancing

What Should I Major In?

My cursor maintained its steady rhythm while I sat and stared at the blank document on my computer.

And in that moment, I finally admitted what I had been denying for weeks.

The warning signs had appeared—inability to focus, lack of excitement, feeling like a failure, my normal Pollyanna attitude turned to dark cynicism—but I had pushed through, telling myself it would be different this time.

But I couldn’t deny it any longer.

I was burned out. Again.

I felt like a failure. I had allowed myself to get burned out for probably the 10th time in 4 years.

You see, I’m a burnout junkie.

I push myself hard and attempt to do ALL THE THINGS. I succeed for a while. But after a few weeks or months, the tell-tale signs of burnout show up.

But rather than fix the problem, I ignore the warning signals and press on, thinking this time will be different.

You’ve probably heard that insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

That about sums me up. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Burnout is real and is very common for college students who have a lot on their plate. It can be tempting to just muscle your way through it, especially when you feel like you have no other option.

But speaking from more experience than I’d like to have, that’s not the best way to go about it.

So, for both you and myself, I put together this Burnout Guide of how to avoid burnout, the warning signs, and how to recover.

How to avoid burnout

The best way to recover from burnout is obviously to not get burned out in the first place. Novel thought, right? What are the best ways to do that?

Relax.

I know. Relaxing is a lot easier said than done. There’s a never-ending list of things to do, people to be with, problems to solve, and things to accomplish. But scheduling time to relax is just as important as scheduling time to study, go to work, or anything else in your busy life.

And “relaxing” doesn’t necessarily mean “veg in front of the TV” (in fact, that may not relax you at all). Take the time to think about what actually relaxes you—reading, painting, a bubble bath, playing a game, talking with a friend, going on a walk—and do that.

And don’t feel guilty about it! It’s okay to take time to recharge your batteries. You weren’t created to be “on” and producing all day, every day.

Eat well.

We all know we should eat well, but usually we think of it in terms of “I don’t want to get fat,” and not “I want to do what’s best for my brain, hormones, and emotions.” And while the old adage “you are what you eat” isn’t entirely true (I can already hear all the dad jokes about turning into a chicken when you eat a chicken), what you eat does impact more than your waistline.

Take your vitamins, eat your veggies, and slow down on the pizza. You’ll thank yourself later.

Sleep.

You know how you always feel better about a problem after sleeping on it? You just don’t think clearly when you’re tired. That’s why sleep is vitally important to preventing burnout.

And if you’re too busy to sleep, that’s a huge warning sign that you’re probably doing too much. Cut out some things and take care of yourself! Your body was created to need sleep.

Know what energizes you.

Not only do you need to know what relaxes you, you also need to know what energizes you. Make a list to consult when you need it. Otherwise you’ll spend hours letting Netflix autoplay do its thing and not actually feel better afterwards.

Do you feel like you can do anything after you go on a hike? Write that down! Does talking to your best friend/coach/accountability partner keep you going? Add it to the list. Are you inspired and excited about life when you have a canvas and paint at your fingertips? Put it on there.

Don’t get stuck in an “I don’t know what to do” rut. Have a go-to list that makes decision-making easier.

Tell-tale signs of burnout

Avoiding burnout is obviously the best. But if you’re a burnout junkie like me, you blew right past preventative because preventative is for wussies (or wise people, buuuuutt, we won’t let ourselves admit that) and you’re already in a burnout spiral. Burnout comes in many different ways, but here are some of the signs:

• Forgetfulness

• Lack of concentration

• Lack of productivity

• Insomnia

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Anger

• Increased irritability

• Chronic fatigue

• Loss of appetite

• Increased illness

• Loss of enjoyment

• Pessimism

• Isolation

• Detachment

• Physical pain

While I experience many of these in varying degrees, the biggest ones for me are forgetfulness, lack of concentration, pessimism, and lack of productivity. Those lead to feelings of failure and the need to try harder which causes me to circle further down in the burnout spiral. I know I’m not alone...

How to recover from burnout

“I’m definitely burned out. What I need to know is how to fix it. Like, yesterday!”

I hear ya.

I wish I could tell you to sleep 10 hours each night over the weekend, eat 4oz of brussel sprouts, go on a hike, and you’ll be well Monday morning. But unfortunately, it’s not a one-size-fits-all fix. And it’s not an overnight (or over-weekend) process.

But with some intentionality, you can get back to normal. (And once you do, refer to the above section about how to prevent it the next time. Don’t get caught in the insanity loop!) Here are some tips to get you started.

• Look at your life. What is on your plate? What is stressing you out? Write it down. Just writing it out takes half the stress away simply because it’s not swirling in your head anymore and feels more manageable. Plus then you can take a good look at it (see next step).

• Reduce stress. Look at your list. What can be eliminated? And before you say, “nothing! That’s why I’m sooooo stressssssed!!” actually take some time to consider what you can realistically change. Be honest with yourself. Get creative, delegate tasks, lower your standards for yourself a little bit, and purge your schedule.

• Say no. This is hard to do. But it’s a necessary skill to learn and essential when it comes to recovering from burnout. Instead of instantly saying “yes” to every request that comes your way, get in the habit of saying “no.” A good rule of thumb: if it’s not a definite “yes,” it’s a definite “no.”

• Give yourself a break. Literally. If you’re constantly rushing from one thing to the next, you’re booking yourself a little too tight. (If more than half of your meals have been skipped, eaten in the car, or consumed standing up, I’m talking to you.) Schedule time to take it slow, relax, or just stop and reflect.

• Unplug. Close your laptop, shut off your phone, and power down your tablet. Take a break from all the things fighting for your attention and focus on one thing instead, even if it’s just for a 15 minutes. Your brain will thank you.

• Socialize. Get out. Stop being so focused on productivity and just go out and have some fun for the sake of having fun. Spend time with friends and enjoy life.

• Set start and stop times. Whether it’s school or a job, have set times that you work on those things and then stop. Don’t take work home with you or let your college classes creep into every aspect of your life. Set boundaries with your time (and location, if applicable) and then stick to them.

• Accountability. Sometimes you just need those friends who will come alongside you and help. The ones who will ask you the hard questions about what you’re doing and if you’re taking care of yourself. I have four close friends who are awesome at calling me out and making sure I’m doing what I should. They’re invaluable to me.

Burnout doesn’t have to be a constant cycle. With some intentionality and awareness, you can prevent it and thrive in school, work, and life.

Have you ever been burned out? How did you recover?

Earning a college degree is a great way to improve your job prospects. In fact, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an advanced level of education can lead to higher wages and lowered unemployment rates. Depending on your career aspirations, you can choose from six different college degrees.

Associate Degree

(Usually 60 credit units)

These degrees usually contain a lot of general education classes, like college math, English, and economics. This is the basic degree that’s most commonly offered at community colleges and that historically takes two years to complete.

Bachelor’s Degree

(Usually 120 credit units)

These degrees are considered the standard college degree and usually take four years to complete at the rate of 15 credits per semester. The first half of the degree usually overlaps with common associate degree courses, called general education electives. Bachelor’s degrees also include more major-related classes and 6 to 27 hours of free electives.

Under the main bachelor’s degree category, you have several two-letter codes (sometimes followed by a specialization) that tell you the degree’s specialty. Here are a few common ones:

• BA — Bachelor of Arts

• BS — Bachelor of Science

• BSBA — Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (or BBA, Bachelor of Business Administration)

• BE — Bachelor of Engineering

Master’s Degree

(Usually 30–50 credit units)

Also called a graduate degree, this degree is the next step after a bachelor’s degree. Since a master’s degree is usually more specialized, you can’t get a master’s degree unless you first have a bachelor’s degree. Thus if you have a bachelor’s degree in business, your master’s degree would be in a more detailed topic, like accounting, taxation, or business administration. 

The original idea was that people would earn more and more honors as they got more focused and specialized in one area of study. All master’s degrees conveniently start with M. The most common are MBA, MA, MS, and MFA.

Doctoral Degree

(Usually 60 credit units)

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Almost all schools require a completed master’s degree before you can start a PhD. A PhD. means you have conducted significant original research on a certain topic and have written something academic on it (called a dissertation or thesis). 

Before a doctoral degree is awarded, there is usually a review by a group of doctoral peers. In many fields, the PhD is considered a “terminal degree.” That means it’s the end of the academic line, and you can’t get any more training in that field beyond a PhD. A few fields have lower terminal degrees; in law, a Juris Doctor is a terminal degree, and there usually is no PhD.

Professional Degree

(Usually 60–120 credit units)

A professional degree is designed to prepare bachelor’s degree holders for work in a specific field. Professional degrees are offered for various industries, such as architecture, landscape architecture, chiropractic, dentistry, engineering, law, pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine, and education. Upon completion of the program, graduates are often eligible to pursue accreditations or sit for licensing exams in their fields. Examples of professional degree licenses include medical licenses, law licenses, and pilot’s licenses.   

Joint Degree

(Usually 120 or more credit units)

Joint degree programs (sometimes referred to as a double major) are designed for students interested in graduating with two college diplomas. Coursework for both majors is taken simultaneously, which allows graduates to complete both degrees at the same time, as opposed to one after the other. Students who choose a joint degree often take 40 general education credits, 40 credits for their first major, and 40 credits for their second major; however, each institution has its own credit hour requirements. If you’re considering a joint degree, be sure to ask your college adviser about the specific requirements for your school. 

Choose a Degree That Fits Your Career Path

Each college has subtle differences, particularly with bachelor’s degrees and their requirements. Colleges also have different accreditation policies, depending on what system a school uses. Higher education has also changed a lot in the past few years, so take some time to learn how recent college changes impact your education. 

Recommended Readings:

• How to Find Online Classes While You’re Social Distancing

• What Level of Education Do I Need?

• What I Wish I Had Known About Getting Into Grad School

Sources:

• Indeed, When a Professional Degree will Help You Advance in Your Career

• University World News, “The Case for Evolving from Dual to Joint Degrees”

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Learn More, Earn More: Education Leads to Higher Wages, Lower Unemployment”