There's More to Life Than a College Education

College has a long list of pros, especially for an academically-based profession. But for many of America's youth, choosing to go to college is quite a complex decision. With the expansion of online businesses, there are more opportunities than ever to make your own path in the business world—one that may or may not include a typical college education.

For starters, those four years of commitment mean that college graduates aren't entering the workforce until about 22 years old. This takes years away from hands-on learning in your desired field and can be viewed as a significant opportunity cost. Having four years of experience in a particular field may be even more valuable than a degree.

And speaking of value... The average bachelor's degree in the United States costs $127,000—a sum very few have lying around. As a result, about 70% of students take out loans to help pay for school. So often, we hear from graduates that college felt like a waste of money and that paying off student loans is a struggle not worth the reward. How many people do you know who are in a career that is actually attached to the degree they earned? Meanwhile, there are thousands of entrepreneurs who didn't go to or finish college who are already making multi-millions a year from their businesses.

The good news here is, you don't have to wait for a degree to begin your journeyas an entrepreneur.

Turning to industry insider business coaches like myself is fast becoming the road more traveled, as this is a one-on-one learning experience that most do not get in a room full of other students. An expert business coach guides you through a deep dive into your core passions and can pull your greatest strengths to the surface without the huge payout and time investment.

As a business coach for entrepreneurs, I serve as the fearless front runner of the boss babe revolution, helping female business-builders start making money now by turning their greatest passion into healthy profits. As an experienced entrepreneur, I learned a great deal from my own professional history. And now, I use that knowledge to teach others through virtual coaching—a platform that is both convenient and inexpensive.

So, before going into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, I urge you to investigate alternative education opportunities to help prepare you to enter a career or start a business you love. With the internet, there are so many opportunities to start a business.

Thanks to the Internet, college is no longer the only way to broaden your horizons. Instead of hitting the books at university, look for people leading a creative project or business that inspires you. We can't create what we haven't seen evidenced before us in some way, so seeking mentors and people that have blazed the trail ahead of you is incredibly valuable.

The point is, before you go into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, investigate alternative education options. The education system may make it seem like college is the only option, but there is more to the world than a degree that you may or may not ever use. There are so many other avenues, aside from college, that may better prepare you for a career or business you truly love. These days, the vast amount of online resources available make it nearly effortless to expand your knowledge and gain insight you may otherwise miss… Going the traditional route may end up costing you a lot more in the long run.