What Do I Do After High School? • Verto Education

The Real Options and How to Make the Best Choice for Your Future

The class of 2027 has more options than ever. The traditional high school-college-career pathway just isn’t a requirement anymore and it’s only one of many options. The truth is: there’s no one right path. You can go a traditional route–enroll in college, work, or enlist in the military. You can also take a full gap year or a first-year study abroad that takes you to study and live overseas. The important thing is to choose an option that makes sense for right now and helps set you on the right path for you.

As you consider your next step after high school, here are the options and questions to use to think through each so you make the best choice for you.

College or University

College is still the top choice for high school graduates. The consulting firm, EAB, surveyed recent high school graduates in 2026. Most,(89%) of the 9,516 recent high school graduates had enrolled in college. These are the top three characteristics students used to assess the value of getting a college education:

Post-graduation job placement: 44%
Active-learning experiences like internships: 35%, and
Received financial aid: 30%

For many careers–think everything from teaching and education to engineering and medicine–a bachelor’s or master’s degree is the first step. There are as many as 2,400 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. This means that chances are you can find a college near you and with the major you want. When you consider college, think about:

Cost: The cost of college includes tuition, fees, books, extracurricular activities, some of which can be offset by the availability of scholarships and financial aid. What is the “sticker price”? What is the actual price for you and your family?
Available majors: What do you want to study? How well does the major and courses align with your goals?
Campus size: Small, private schools feel much different from large Big Ten state universities.
Campus culture: The school’s culture will impact how you feel on campus. Do the other students seem like people you would get along with? Does the school have the energy you want to be in every day?
Location: Do you want to live on campus? Or do you want to be able to commute to save money or live off campus?

It’s also true that, while you may end up earning a college degree, you don’t have to go directly from high school to college. Consider what experiences you want to have as you transition from high school to work, and if college is the best next step for right now.

Questions to Ask: Is College Right for You?

What job do I want to pursue? What are the basic requirements for that job? Does the job require a college degree?
Am I going to college because it’s what I want or because I feel pressure to go?
What colleges offer the major and degree I want?
What are the costs to attend including tuition, room and board, fees, and travel?
What experiences do I want to have in college? Which colleges offer those experiences?
Do I enjoy studying and learning in a traditional school environment?

Community College

A community college is a two-year public school that allows students to either take foundational courses that they can transfer to a four-year college later or take courses towards a two-year associate’s degree. Community college is becoming more popular; enrollment increased 5.2% in 2026 compared to 2021.

You may be surprised at the jobs that only require a two-year degree. Healthcare jobs including nursing, dental hygiene, and respiratory therapy may require an associate’s degree. And some tech jobs, like web developer or engineering technician (an assistant for engineers) require two-year degrees. If you are interested in a field, like healthcare or tech, but want to get experience before committing to a final degree, earning an associate’s degree can be a quick way to be hired in higher paying jobs while you try out that field.

Community college is also less expensive than traditional college. The College Board reported that tuition at two-year public colleges averaged $4,150, compared with $11,950 at four-year public colleges. Even if you want to graduate with a four-year degree, taking foundational courses like English, math, and science at a community college and then transferring to a university for your degree requirements can be a financially responsible option.

Questions to Ask: Is Community College Right for You?

What job do I want? What foundational courses do I need to take?
Can I do what I want with a certificate or two-year degree?
Are there fields that I am interested in but not sure about yet? Would community college allow me to try out those fields?
Does the field I want to go into have two-year options that allow me to gain experience with a less expensive degree?
What are the community college options in my area?

Trade School and Apprenticeships

For many jobs, like mechanics, electricians, and plumbers, you need to be certified to get work. Trade schools offer specialized education to be licensed and hired for a specific job. For example if you want to work in a mechanic’s shop, you can complete a mechanic certification. Or if you want to work as an electrician, you’ll need an electrician license. The goal of trade schools is to prepare people to work in that job, which often includes apprenticeships and connections with local businesses.

Questions to Ask: Is Trade School Right for You?

Do I have a specific job in mind?
What certification do I need to do the job I want?
What trade schools are available in my area?
In addition to training, what apprenticeships or career services does the trade school offer to help me get the job I want?

Gap Year

A gap year means taking time between periods of formal education (typically between high school and college) to focus on personal growth, experiences, and active learning. A gap year isn’t a vacation; it’s about gaining meaningful experiences. This can include:

Exploration and Travel
Internships or Part-Time/Full-Time Employment
Learning and Skill Building
Volunteering

Questions to Ask: Is a Gap Year Right for You?

Am I considering a study abroad year when I attend college?
Am I interested in getting experience abroad but concerned about when to fit it in?
Am I OK with pausing my academics while I pursue travel or exploration?
Will this impact my goals to graduate college on a traditional timeline (within ~4 years)?
Am I ready for a break from traditional school but don’t want to lose momentum with any future education?

Taking a gap year often means putting a pause on your studies to prioritize other experiences. If a gap year doesn’t align with your academic goals, programs like Verto Education combine international experiences with accredited college coursework. For example, Verto participants live abroad in countries from Argentina to the Czech Republic, study for one to three semesters, and when they’re finished, those credits transfer back to 75+ universities and colleges that partner with Verto.

Programs like Verto provide the benefits of a gap year without delaying your college future.

Learn more about Verto’s first year abroad.

The Workforce

For many high school graduates, earning money is the main goal. If you need to earn money to support yourself or your family, you may head right into full-time work after graduation.

If you start working full-time after high school, it’s important to consider your long-term earning potential and the opportunities that exist in your current job. Especially if you see working as a temporary strategy to earn money while you gear up for college, community college, or another option, you’ll want to leave your job with more experience and skills than you started.

Questions to Ask: Is Going to Work the Right Choice for You?

Do I have a job that will meet my current and future financial requirements?
What opportunities does my current job provide?
What skills am I gaining by working?
Do I have a long-term plan to grow in that job or move into another career?

The Military

The military is a good option for graduates who want financial stability, and clear opportunities for college and career. Members of the military can receive college tuition or tuition assistance to complete college. Depending on what you do in the military, you could be trained in cyber security, mechanics, or medical services.

There are criteria to enter the military. You must pass the ASVAB aptitude test, clear a medical exam, and enlist and sign a contract. Then you go through 8 to 16 weeks of basic training, learn a specific military job, and report for duty. This typically involves moving to a military base (housing is provided). Once you’re through basic training, you’ll work for the military, including learning additional skills depending on your job.

Questions to Ask: Is the Military the Right Choice for Me?

Do I want to move and am I willing to move to any area of the country or overseas to complete my job?
Do I want to complete basic training?
Am I interested in the type of work people do in the military?
Can I make the commitment to 3 to 6 years of active duty?

Study Abroad and First-Year Study Abroad

You don’t have to wait until you’re in the middle of college to study abroad; if you’re planning to study abroad during college, programs like Verto let you study abroad your first year of higher education.

Some study abroad programs pair you with a host family or in a student residence, and help you get set up with schooling, transportation, and community. As you study, you’ll earn college credits. For example, Verto provides study abroad experiences for students who want to study abroad and earn college credits that transfer* to more than 75 U.S. universities when they’re finished. Taking a year-abroad with Verto feels like a gap year without the gap. In fact, with the experiences and life skills you’ve gained, you may feel like you gained momentum during your first-year abroad.

Questions to Ask: Is Study Abroad the Right Choice for You?

Do I want to study abroad while I’m in college?
Am I ready to live in another country?
How will studying abroad benefit me? What college credits can I earn while studying? What experiences do I want to have?
Am I comfortable navigating an unfamiliar culture, housing and community? Or, is this something I want to learn how to do?

Compare Your Options

Path	Time Commitment	End Result	Main Question
College or University (4-year)	4 years	Bachelor’s degree	Does the career I want to pursue require a college degree?
Community College (2-year)	2 years	Associate’s degree or certificate	Does the career I want require a 2-year degree? Or, can I earn foundational credits through a community college?
Trade School	6 months to 2 years	Certificate	Do I need to earn a certificate or license to complete my job?
Gap Year	1 year or more	Experience	Am I ready for a break from traditional school but don’t want to lose momentum with any future education?
The Workforce	Full-time work	Full time work	Do I have a job that will meet my current and future financial requirements?
The Military	3 to 6 years	Military benefits including college tuition	Am I interested in the type of work that people do in the military? Am I ready to commit to the requirements of the military?
Study Abroad	1 year or more	College credits	Do I want to study abroad while in college?

With so many possibilities after graduation, deciding what comes next can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Remember that choosing a path doesn’t mean locking yourself into it forever. As your interests, goals, and priorities evolve, your plans can too.”

Interested in learning more about starting college abroad? Sign up for a virtual info session.

Sources:

National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

Higher Ed Dive

EAB Insights Paper

https://news.gallup.com/poll/694238/gen-students-engaged-school-ready-future.aspx

*Please note that course credit transfer varies by partner institution. All course offerings are reviewed annually by our partners to determine transferability to their respective institutions.

**Guaranteed admission to Direct Transfer (DT) partners is only guaranteed for those who maintain good conduct and successfully fulfill requirements and eligibility guidelines for the DT guarantee.