2-year, 4-year or no college at all? Here’s what one expert suggests

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Is a four-year degree ultimately worth the money? Will a two-year degree get you the job you want? News 2 spoke with a career coach who says times are changing and the juice might not be worth the squeeze.

“I love talking about this, because I think this is one of the great problems in American society today. This pressure to go to college, and with that pressure comes enormous debt for a lot of people, and it’s just unfair,” said Ken Coleman. “We’ve created this, almost this litmus test, that if you don’t go to college, you’re less than and it drives me crazy.”

📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →

Coleman is a career coach, speaker, best-selling author, TV host and commentator. However, he is also a college dropout who says a degree is not always the best course of action.

“We’ve got to start teaching aptitude. There’s a clue there. You’ve always really been good at math and science, and you enjoy math and science. Ding, ding, ding. We’ve got some clues there,” said Coleman. “So, now let’s get these kids out into the field as juniors and seniors. Okay? Let’s let them hang out with people that are in those fields that they think they’re interested in.”

Then, Coleman suggests a different type of higher education.

“Trade schools, certifications, like if you go to a technical school like a Bethel Tech that I endorse, we’re talking about a nine-month program, $15,000, and people are coming out of there starting at $75,000 and have a track to six figures in two years. These are real people,” he explained.

According to Coleman, employers are beginning to take notice. “We’re seeing more and more major corporations drop the degree requirement. From the largest accounting firm in the world to major corporations like Delta, the largest airline in the world. Why? Because they’re realizing pretty quickly that higher ed is not producing people that are truly ready to go into the workforce. We’re going to have to train you anyway, so just come on over here.”

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

In the end, Coleman said he isn’t vetoing college for all, just the notion that it’s a one-size-fits-all approach. After all, learning to think critically and question the norm can happen just about anywhere.

For more information on Ken Coleman’s career coaching and aptitude test, click here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.