August marks back-to-school season in South Carolina. It’s a season filled with anticipation for new coursework and academic progress, but also a time for students and families to reflect on the career pathways that education can help make possible.

It’s understandable that many young people are questioning the value of higher education. National student loan debt now exceeds $1.87 trillion, with borrowers in South Carolina carrying an average balance of about $34,000 per learner, slightly below the national average of roughly $37,000 to $39,000. Meanwhile, unemployment among South Carolinians ages 16 to 24 is about 9.2%, twice the state’s overall unemployment rate of 4.6%.

While concerns about the value of college are very real, the data indicate that post-secondary education still provides the best pathways to increased lifetime income. In South Carolina, community college graduates will earn $220,000 to $335,000 more over their lifetime than those with just a high school diploma. Four-year graduates (including transfer students) will earn nearly $800,000 more over their lifetime.

However, the biggest barriers to obtaining a college degree are cost, time to completion, accessibility and flexibility to accommodate competing life priorities.

Certificates, associate degrees and bachelor's degrees

Post-secondary education provides multiple pathways to economic success through professional certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The key is to choose the pathways that offer the best job security and ROI.

Professional certificates are the fastest and least expensive way to earn a credential that validates a desired skillset. Certificates can serve as a stackable on-ramp toward a degree, provide timely skills or help you qualify for upward mobility. In South Carolina, the most in-demand professional certificates are in the following fields:

•   Healthcare (CCRN, LPN, CAN, certified medical assistant, certified coding specialist)
  • Manufacturing, logistics and skilled trades (commercial driver’s license, precision manufacturing, HVAC, industrial electrical)
  • Corporate (project management professional, Lean Six Sigma)
  • Technology (Google Professional Certificates, CISSP, CompTIA Security+)

Associate degree programs in highest demand across South Carolina are concentrated in the following fields:

• Healthcare (ADN, RN, physical therapy assistant, diagnostic medical
  sonography/ultrasound technology, radiologic technology)
  • Engineering and advanced manufacturing technology (mechanical or industrial engineering, mechatronics, architectural and civil engineering technology)
  • IT and cybersecurity (computer information technology, network systems management, cybersecurity)
  • Business (business administration, management, accounting)

In the Palmetto State, the following are the most in-demand bachelor’s degrees:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Business administration and finance
• Computer science/IT
• Operations and supply chain management
• Engineering
• Public health

Seeking ROI on educational investment

According to a recent Gallup Poll, only 12% of adults say four-year colleges and universities are doing an excellent or good job providing an affordable education. They gave higher marks to two-year colleges (68% rated them excellent or good). Despite that sentiment, parents still want their kids to pursue a postsecondary education: 38% want them to attend a four-year college, 19% to a two-year college and 17% to a job-training or certification program.

While the economic returns on these programs may be years away, here are some strategies to help reduce the cost of postsecondary education:

• Apply for scholarships and grants, both national and local
  • Earn an associate degree, then transfer to a four-year college or university. My institution, Western Governors University, recently signed a transfer agreement with the South Carolina Technical College System and its 16 campuses to maximize the number of credits that count toward a bachelor’s degree.
  • See if your employer offers tuition assistance programs
  • Enlist in the military and take advantage of education benefits (as I did with the GI Bill)
  • Explore accredited, competency-based universities that let you progress at your own pace and potentially graduate faster

Not every well-paying career in South Carolina requires a costly degree. From skilled trades to technology and healthcare, students have more pathways than ever to build a strong future. This fall, look beyond traditional routes and consider educational pathways that offer the clearest returns: real opportunity, manageable cost and lasting career value.

Benjamin M. Coulter, Ed.D., is the Southeast regional director for accredited online Western Governors University, which has more than 8,200 graduates in South Carolina.