What Comes After High School: A Guide for Teens and Parents

Senior year can feel exciting, confusing, or both. Whether you’re a teen exploring your options or a parent helping guide the conversation, you’re probably asking the same big question: What comes after high school, and what can we realistically afford?

Whether it’s college, trades, work, military, gap years, or something in between, each option comes with financial choices. Financial preparation can give your family stability, reduce stress, and help you avoid unnecessary debt. The goal is to help you make a confident, informed choice.

Start here: A quick self-assessment for teens

Think about the following:

• What kinds of work or environments feel energizing to you? Do you prefer hands-on, academic, creative, structured, or technical work?
• Do you want to keep learning right away or start earning sooner?
• What can your family realistically afford each year without creating long-term financial strain?
• What kind of lifestyle or career do you picture yourself having in about five years?

The answers to these four questions are enough to start shaping your options.

Your main options after high school

Below are the major pathways students in Virginia commonly consider, along with typical cost ranges, benefits, and potential drawbacks.

1. Four-year college or university

A four-year college can open doors to many careers, provide a structured environment with campus life and support, and offer access to internships and strong alumni networks.

In Virginia, the average cost of attending an in-state public university for the 2025-2026 academic year is about $14,846 for tuition and fees, increasing to more than $29,000 per year when housing and meals are included. You can see the breakdown by school on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.

Private colleges typically cost $30,000-$45,000 or more per year for tuition and fees before scholarships are applied.

The expense of a four-year college may require taking out loans if scholarships and savings don’t fully cover costs.

  Pro Tip: A four-year college or university could be a good option if you are fairly certain of your career path. Keep in mind that approximately 50% of students graduate from a four-year institution with a degree. In 2025, 21.5% of bachelor’s degree holders took more than four years to complete their program.

If your family is still building college savings, learn more about long-term planning and 529 savings account options.

2. Community college

Community college is the most affordable way to start a degree. You’ll have flexible scheduling and a clear transfer pathway to Virginia’s four-year universities. The trade-offs are that it provides a less traditional campus experience and requires more self-direction.

In Virginia, community college costs about $5,000-$6,000 per year for tuition and fees, and many students keep expenses low by commuting from home. Most students end up spending around $10,000-$12,000 per year in total.

Overall, it’s an excellent option for those who want to pursue college but need a more affordable first step.

3. Trades, vocational programs & apprenticeships

Trades and vocational programs include fields like HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, cosmetology, automotive technology, and medical technician roles. These programs provide fast entry into the workforce, lower training costs, and high demand for skilled workers.

Apprenticeships offer the added benefit of earning money while you learn. The trade-offs are that some fields can be physically demanding, and certifications are often required for advancement.

In Virginia, certificate programs typically cost between $3,000 and $15,000 in total, while apprenticeships often pay students as they train.

4. A gap year

A gap year is when you intentionally take a break between high school and higher education to pursue something else.

A gap year can include working, volunteering, traveling through a program, or taking low-cost classes. This time allows teens to build clarity, gain maturity, save money, and explore interests before committing to college, trade programs, or other training. The trade-offs are that it requires structure to stay productive and delays the start of schooling or training by a year.

In Virginia, a self-funded work or volunteer gap year can be low cost. Structured programs typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the organization.

The Gap Year Association offers advice, program listings, and trip planning. Many colleges also have information about gap year options and how they impact enrollment. Some colleges will allow you to defer your enrollment for a year if you’re pursuing a structured gap year program.

5. Military service

Military service offers stable income, leadership and technical training, and the opportunity to earn strong education benefits through the GI Bill for future schooling. The trade-offs are that it requires physical and emotional readiness and a long-term commitment, often several years.

In terms of finances, service members receive guaranteed pay, training, and housing, with starting salaries typically around $35,000-$45,000 per year for enlisted personnel, depending on rank and location.

With experience and promotions, earnings can grow significantly, and additional benefits such as health care, retirement savings, and education funding add value. This path can be a strong launch for students who want structure, purpose, and future college funding.

6. Starting a career or business immediately

Some high school graduates will choose to enter the workforce right away, taking roles in retail, health care support, childcare, IT support, hospitality, trades assistantships, or their own business start-ups.

This path provides immediate income, real-world experience, and the ability to support yourself while exploring future options. The trade-offs are that career growth may require additional training or credentials later, and starting income is often lower than in skilled or trained pathways.

In Virginia, many entry-level jobs pay around $14-$20 per hour, which translates to roughly $28,000-$40,000 per year for full-time work.

For students pursuing this route, building emergency savings and learning to budget early is especially important.

7. Internships

Internships can take place during high school, community college, four-year college, or after graduation, providing teens with a chance to explore careers without a long-term commitment.

Internships can help build skills, strengthen job or college applications, and sometimes offer pay. The trade-offs are that some internships are competitive, many are short-term, and pay can vary widely, from unpaid internships to as much as $35 per hour or more.

Internships give teens valuable experience and help them make clearer decisions before committing to more expensive programs or long-term career paths.