University for some is impossible, and for others it costs a lot of money, leaving them in debt in the future. This leads to questioning if there are other ways people can enter higher education without having to get into such high amounts of debt.

• One cheaper option is by studying via the Open University - The Open university offers high quality education that is accessible to all. They also offer fee waivers for students to cover some of the costs of the course, upto around 60% (Open University,2018). So studying with them you have less of a chance of getting into debt.

• In the UK, the other alternative to University is college, which is where you can learn various trades, from business to travel & tourism, to cookery, beauty or construction, and many others. In the US, Americans refer to university as college, but in the UK they are two different things.

• This is also another option that gives you a certificate at the end of the course, rather than a degree, but which allows you to work the same. I'm not sure if it's the same in other countries? perhaps someone else knows!

There are many options for students looking to further their education after high school. Many students are intimidated by the costs of university (specifically within the United States), and it's easy to see why when the average student has over $30,000 of student debt. Students looking to avoid this can attend a trade school, where they will receive streamlined, specialized training for a specific skill, such as electrician, mechanic, computer programming, dental hygiene, web developing, and others, without the astronomical costs. These schools do not require four years and are much more cost efficient than a four-year university. If a student is set on college, they can also attend a community college, which will offer associate's degrees and general education for a lower cost. Students who do not care about acquiring a degree right away could also join the military and use the G.I. bill to acquire a degree either during their service, or after. Another, less traditional way that a student could avoid the expenses of a university is by entering the work force right away. Some jobs may offer tuition matching, compensated courses, and classes or courses that are industry-specific. None of these options are guaranteed to be successful, but they do provide an alternative to traditional four-year universities.

In some countries, for instance - Germany, there is a dual education - a combination of study and work. If a person does not have economic means to earn a degree from a private university and knows specifically what type of work he or she wants to do, this option is good for them.

At the same time, quality online education (MOOCs) in different areas could provide equivalent of knowledge offered at a degree program at a little to no cost. The question less known is whether there is a chance to have certificates earned at MOOC courses accepted by an employer. However some MOOCs are created by the potential employers themselves like international NGOs, are very practical in nature and might provide information about good employment chances.

Last but not least when comparing university programs, it is always necessary to understand how and if they are recognized in a country in which a potential student will be studying and looking for work. For instance, in some European countries western university degrees are not recognized and employers would recognize only graduates of the national academic institutions.