Tuition at public universities has risen an unprecedented 51 percent over the past five years. While the price of a college education has skyrocketed far faster than inflation, many careers for which colleges prepare their graduates are disappearing. U.S. News’ Best Careers guide concludes that “college grads might want to consider blue-collar careers” because bachelor’s degree holders “are having trouble finding jobs that require college-graduate skills.”
Many now argue that it doesn’t make sense for parents to mortgage their homes, or for students to saddle themselves with long-term debt, in order to pay high and rising college tuition to prepare for jobs that no longer exist. That’s why U.S. News is telling college graduates to look for jobs that do not require a college diploma. Among the 31 best opportunities for 2008 are the careers of hairstylist, cosmetologist, firefighter, locksmith, and security system technician.
