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AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Five doors. All of them real.

College, trade school, military, apprenticeship, work.

THE THINGS TO KNOW

four ideas that cover most of it

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University

Four+ years, the most expensive door. Worth it when the career requires the degree — run the debt against the likely starting salary before you commit.

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Trades & apprenticeships

Electricians, welders, plumbers: earn while you learn, finish with zero debt, and many out-earn degree jobs within a decade.

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Military

Pay, housing, training and college money — in exchange for a binding commitment of years. Read everything before you sign anything.

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Community college & direct-to-work

Two-year degrees and certificates are the cheapest on-ramp to many careers. Working first is also a plan — especially with a budget and a next step.

WHAT IF A BABY COMES FIRST?

sometimes parenthood is the plan — here are your real options

About 1 in 6 young women and many young men become parents before 25. It doesn't end your options — it changes the order. Here's what actually works.

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Work + childcare support

A full-time job while using childcare assistance programs (many states cover most childcare costs for young parents). Slower, but steady money from day one.

Hardest on sleep, fastest on income.

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School part-time, on campus childcare

Many community colleges offer on-campus childcare and teen-parent programs. Two classes at a time still finishes — just on a longer timeline.

Slower degree, but the degree still happens.

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Paid apprenticeship

Earn while you train — trades like electrician, plumbing and HVAC pay from week one, with no student debt. Flexible hours vary by employer.

Good money by year two, no debt.

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Family or co-parenting support

Living with family or sharing parenting duties cuts the biggest costs — childcare and rent — and buys time to finish school or training.

The single biggest money-saver available.

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Programs that exist for exactly this

WIC (food for mom + baby), Medicaid/CHIP (healthcare), SNAP (groceries), childcare subsidies and teen-parent high school programs. Millions of parents use these — that's what they're for.

Using help is a strategy, not a failure.

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The honest math

A baby costs roughly $2,800/month with full-time childcare. Most 18-year-old jobs pay $1,800–$2,500/month. That gap is why the other five options exist — nobody does this alone.

Run the Baby Audition before you need it.