Going to College

Higher education, which includes four-year colleges and universities, trade schools and two-year institutions, is one of the most important investments that you can make. Pew Research Center found that among millennials in 2012, the unemployment rate for high school graduates was 12.2 percent compared to a much lower 3.8 percent for those who have completed a bachelor's degree or more. Yet it's a choice that must be carefully considered.

The average cost of going to college can range from $15,640 at public institutions to $40,614 at private nonprofit institutions per year, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. While many students pursue higher education, the cost for some may be too high. According to a 2016 student debt report from the White House's Council of Economic Advisors, earning a bachelor's degree typically results in earning $1 million more than those with high school diplomas over a lifetime of work.

But even with a college education, a better life is not a given — student loan commitments can be costly and difficult to pay off. The 2016 White House report states that as of 2015, outstanding student debt had grown to $1.3 trillion, due in large part to rising enrollments and a greater share of students borrowing. While the average loan size has also increased, the average student loan debt for 2016 graduates was $37,172.

Deciding to pursue higher education and the path to a successful career varies from person to person. There are three general types of post-secondary educational institutions to consider:

• Trade school – A trade school is exactly what it sounds like; a school that provides job-specific training for a particular skilled trade. Classes are meant to develop a student's specific skill set and knowledge base for a career, rather than to impart a general education. Trade schools are best suited to hands-on learners who are interested in starting work immediately after high school.
• Two-year college – Also known as community colleges, technical colleges and junior colleges, a two-year college is a way to complete two years of college-level course work at a lower cost than at a four-year college or university. Graduates who use their two-year education credits to transfer to a four-year college or university can then complete a bachelor's degree program in two additional years.
• Four-year college – A four-year college or university requires students to take a broad range of classes and awards degrees that can be used for a wide spectrum of jobs. Four-year institutions are significantly more expensive than two-year colleges and offer student housing. Costs can vary depending on whether it is a public or private college and if you are attending in-state or out-of-state.

Classes

Your high school transcript is just one part of your college application, but it can have a significant impact on whether you're accepted. If your high school offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes, consider enrolling. A high enough score on an AP exam saves you from paying tuition for the equivalent college course and can even help you graduate sooner from college.

Standardized tests

Though an increasing number of colleges and universities no longer require submission of standardized test scores, Scholastic Assessment Tests (SATs), SAT subject tests and American College Testing (ACT) are still widely used in the application process to assess students from both public and private high schools. Signing up for prep courses and taking the tests several times can pay off. For many colleges, higher test scores can have a substantial impact on grants and scholarships. Be sure to research what the standardized test requirements are for each of the colleges that your child plans to apply to. Remember, there are often fee waivers for low-income students.

It can feel overwhelming to decide where you want to be after high school graduation and figuring out how you're going to get there. Fortunately, there are many online resources that can help a student create a plan and stick to it. Many high schools have their own college counselor who can help people stay on track with their college application preparations.