6 non-traditional career routes America’s Gen Z is taking instead of college

College is still valuable for many but a clear cohort of US Gen Zers (roughly people born 1997–2012) are choosing faster, cheaper or more flexible paths into work. America’s Gen Z is increasingly opting for non-traditional career routes instead of traditional college programs as college costs surge, job markets shift and new technologies reshape what employers want. These alternate routes often offer faster entry into employment, less debt and sometimes more personal satisfaction. Gen Z’s risk tolerance, financial pressures and shifting employer demand are driving a real transformation in how “success” is defined in America. There are six non-traditional career routes which show that college is no longer the only or always the best path. Many are finding paths that offer dignity, financ