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Comparing Options After High School

The options for education and training after high school can be confusing. Here is a comparison of the most common routes for recent high school graduates. The average cost and potential earnings for each path can help you make a savings plan.

Keep in mind that these routes are not permanent or exclusive, and choosing one route doesn't rule out other options if a student would like to pursue an additional or different path later.

After high school education and training options.
  Description Average Cost Potential Earnings Required Typical Jobs
Workforce Full-time employment directly after high school $200–$1,100
  • Starting: $28,547
  • Mid-career: $40,781
 May need related job experience or certain skills
  • Accounting clerk
  • Animal caretaker
  • Childcare
  • Clinical, administrative, office clerk
  • Customer service representative
  • Driver
  • Food Services
  • Maintenance and janitorial
  • Retail worker
Military Attend military academy or enlist before or instead of pursuing a college education $0
  • Starting: $25,297
  • Mid-career: $76,504
  • ASVAB test
  • Fitness and health standards
  • Background check
  • Administration
  • Aviation
  • Combat officer
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Health care
  • Intelligence
  • Mechanical and maintenance
  • Public affairs and media relations
Short-Term Education Short professional programs; certificate programs; or 9-month, one-year or two-year college programs $200–$25,000
  • Starting: $36,703
  • Mid-career: $54,034
  • Requirements vary by program
  • Placement tests
  • Auto mechanic
  • Barber
  • Chef
  • Computer tech
  • Cosmetologist
  • Court reporter
  • Dental assistant
  • Fitness trainer
  • Nursing or home health aide
  • Pharmacy tech
Apprenticeship Up to six-year programs $100–$1,000
  • Starting: $32,625
  • Mid-career: $48,937
  • Requirements vary by program
  • May need to be minimum age
  • May require community college acceptance
  • Carpenter
  • Electrician
  • HVAC installation and repair
  • Machinist
  • Mason
  • Pipefitter
  • Plumber
  • Sheet metal worker
  • Tool and die worker
Public Four-Year College Institution funded by government and by tuition and fees from students $61,000–$79,000
  • Starting: $49,141
  • Mid-career: $75,444
  • Core high school classes
  • Minimum GPA and possibly SAT/ACT score
  • Application (sometimes with essay, interviews and letters of recommendation)
  • Airline pilot
  • Architect
  • Computer programmer
  • Educator
  • Engineer
  • Financial specialist
  • Graphic designer
  • Reporter or correspondent
  • Writer or editor
Private Four-Year College Institution funded by tuition, fees and private sources $51,000–$134,000
  • Starting: $49,141
  • Mid-career: $75,444
  • Core high school classes
  • Minimum GPA and possibly SAT/ACT score
  • Application (sometimes with essay, interviews and letters of recommendation)
  • Airline pilot
  • Architect
  • Computer programmer
  • Educator
  • Engineer
  • Financial specialist
  • Graphic designer
  • Reporter or correspondent
  • Writer or editor

Sources:

  • Average Cost of Workforce includes the most recently published cost of work clothes, transportation to interviews and resume expenses. [Consumer Expenditure Survey - https://www.bls.gov/cex/tables/cross-tab/mean/cu-size-by-income-1-person-2021-2022.pdf; 2 months apparel ($111) plus 2 months transportation ($778) plus $200 for resume services]
  • Average Cost of Public and Private Four-Year College are based on the most recent net lowest and highest cost of attendance (after discounts on the published costs) per year multiplied by four years. [https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-iowa/tuition-and-costs, etc. for public; https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search/filters?stbd=private&stby=4&s=IA for private]
  • All other Average Cost information is based on figures available online for Iowa programs. [https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search/filters?stbd=public&stby=2&s=IA for 2-year public]
  • Potential Earnings for Workforce are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment up to high school diploma.
  • Potential Earnings for Military are private (E1, less than 2 years' experience) and first lieutenant (O2, 6 years' experience) from https://www.goarmy.com. [https://www.goarmy.com/benefits/while-you-serve/money-pay.html]
  • Potential Earnings for Short-Term Education are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment of associate degree.
  • Potential Earnings for Apprenticeship are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment of some college.
  • Potential Earnings for Public and Private Four-Year College are the 25th and 50th percentile salaries from the most recent U.S. Census Bureau PUMS data (1 year sample) – educational attainment of bachelor's degree.

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