Charles Murray of the Cato Institute goes further. In his essay "Down with the Four-Year Degree!" he states, "Four years makes sense for students who are trying to get a liberal education and therefore need to take a few dozen courses in philosophy, religion, classical and modern literature, the fine arts, classical and modern history (including the history of science), plus acquire fluency in a foreign language and take basic survey courses in the social sciences.... For everyone else, four years is ridiculous."
An outrageous statement to be sure, but the reasoning behind this assertion is that once you take out the general education--those classes which do nothing specific to train you for your chosen career--you eliminate at least two years' worth of coursework. This makes a two-year degree a more cost-effective option for some people.
Fast-track your career training--which courses pay off?
Once you decide that you're interested in launching your career with a minimum of student-debt baggage, you need to find something that interests you and pays well. No this isn't one of those "play video games all day and earn six figures" articles, but there are good industries with low barriers to entry and solid prospects. Health care fields offer a variety of occupations that require less than four years of education and don't involve bed pans. For people who like to work hard and who have thick skins, sales opportunities are wide open--the more tricky and techie, the better the pay. And for people who want a job that's fun to talk about at cocktail parties, there are careers in funeral directing, air-traffic control, and casino gaming management.
Nuclear-medicine technologists
Nuclear-medicine technologists administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients and operate cameras that detect and map the radioactive drugs in a patient's body to create diagnostic images. Training ranges from one to four years and takes the form of certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree training in radiologic technology or a related field and can be earned online or on a campus. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the median annual salary for nuclear-medicine technologists was $66,660 in 2008.
Sales
Many sales representatives take courses in marketing, economics, communications, or even a foreign language to provide the extra edge needed to make sales. Others, like real estate agents, take courses to prepare for licensing exams. This can be done online or at a traditional institution. Certifications are available that provide formal recognition of the skills of sales representatives. Certification typically involves completing formal training and passing an examination. Sales earnings vary widely, from insurance to advertising to real estate to scientific. The median annual salary, with commissions, for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives was $70,200 in 2008
Casino gaming management
Gaming managers oversee the operations and personnel in casinos. They circulate among the tables and observe the operations to ensure that all of the stations and games are covered for each shift and that workers and gamblers adhere to the rules of the games. Many schools offer training or classes and certificates in gaming, as well as offering associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees in hospitality. Some offer training in games, repair-technician work, slot-department management, and casino surveillance and security. The median annual salary for gaming supervisors in 2008 was $45,500, and for managers it was $68,290.
Funeral director
Funeral directors, also called morticians or undertakers, arrange funerals in accordance with the wishes of the deceased and family. In addition to tact and compassion, you'll need two to four years of training approved by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Most programs are two-year associate's degree programs. Mortuary-science programs include courses in anatomy, pathology, physiology, embalming techniques, restorative art, business management, and accounting. The median annual salary for funeral directors was $52,210 in 2008.
Air-traffic controller
Air-traffic controllers coordinate the movement of planes to keep them at safe distances (there's no such thing as a mid-air fender bender). They also direct planes to maximize airport efficiency and minimize delays. Training requirements include three years of progressively responsible full-time work experience, a full four years of college, or a combination of both. Alternatively, an applicant can complete an aviation-related program of study through the FAA's Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. There are two-year or four-year non-engineering degrees that teach aviation and air-traffic control. These folks make pretty big bucks--a median salary of $111,870 in 2008.
These are just a few of careers that allow you to get your education fast and hit the ground running. And you could be making a great living and on your way up the ladder while your four-year college buddies are still flipping burgers, taking 300-level exams, and wondering how they're going to manage their student loans when they graduate with that bachelor's degree in parapsychology.
Gina Pogol has a great freelance career as a writer. In addition to a decade in mortgage lending, she has worked as a business credit systems consultant for Experian and as an accountant for Deloitte. She graduated with high distinction from the University of Nevada with a BS in financial management.
Source: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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