How to evaluate the quality of education investment for non-college choices

Sometimes, college might not be the best choice for everyone. There are many other ways to learn and gain valuable skills without getting a college degree. These can include vocational training, online courses, certification programs, or self-directed learning. But how can you tell if these options are worth your time and money? Let's take a look at some of the things you may want to think about.

Paying for training, certification, or online education can sometimes cost just as much as going to college. Because of that, it is important to make sure that what you are paying for and hoping to get is of good quality. Here is what to consider:

Accreditation means that the program has been checked by experts and meets high-quality standards. Having completed an accredited program can help you find better jobs and make sure you're learning valuable skills.

For example, a certified automotive technician program that is accredited by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) would be a good choice. On the other hand, a non-accredited course might not be very helpful or respected by employers.

To find out if a program is accredited, you can look for information on their website or contact the accrediting organization for your chosen field. The U.S. Department of Education has a list of organizations that check if the education provided is accredited, too.

Learning objectives are the goals of the program, and outcomes are the skills you'll have when you finish. For example, if you're taking a coding course, a learning objective might be to understand how to write code in a specific language, and the outcome would be your ability to create a small app or website.

To find out the learning objectives and outcomes, check the course or program description on their website, or ask the instructors for more details. Knowing what you'll learn and how it can help you ensures you're choosing a non-college option that's worth your time and effort.

In other words: think about what you are getting in return and how much it means to you. Think about things like how much money you could make, the jobs you could get, and how happy it might make you. Then, think about the costs of the program. To figure out if it's worth it, look at things like the type of job, the industry, where you live, your experience, and how much money you might make.

Lastly, when picking a non-college education option, it's important to know how likely it is for students to finish the program and get a certificate. This is called the completion and certification rate. The higher the rate, the more likely you'll be successful in the program, too.

For example, let's say you're choosing between two online coding courses: one has a $90\mathrm{\%}$‍ completion rate, and the other has a $50\mathrm{\%}$‍ completion rate. The first option is probably better because more students finish and get their certificate.

You can usually find these rates on the program's website or by asking someone who works there. Remember, a good program should have high completion and certification rates to show that it's helping students reach their goals.

Some non-college education options might only care about making money and not really teaching you what you need to know. These programs can take your money but not help you get a good job or learn useful skills. One example is the ITT Technical Institute, which took students' money but didn't provide a good education.

So when you're looking at non-college options, make sure to do your research and watch out for programs that seem too good to be true. Always check for things like accreditation, learning objectives, and completion rates before you decide to join a program. It's essential to find a program that truly cares about your education and future success.