High school student: explore before you choose
You can start exploring careers and building skills now, long before you choose a college or program. Start with what you enjoy, then look at the careers and college majors that use those interests. Visit college majors and career interests, take the Career Match Quiz, and ask about dual enrollment or career and technical classes at your school.
Recent high school graduate: compare your paths
This is a great time to compare college, trade school and short-term training side by side. Compare a four-year college, community college, an apprenticeship and short-term certificates side by side. Career options after high school explains each, and college vs. trade school compares them.
Currently attending college: make the most of your degree
Short career training alongside your classes can help you test a career and build practical skills for internships. Confirm your major, add a minor that fills a gap, look for internships and part-time work in your field, and build practical, job-specific knowledge alongside your classes.
College graduate: connect your degree to a job
Practical, job-specific training can help you connect your degree to the roles you are applying for. Look at the career paths connected to your major on its major page. Short, job-specific training and certifications can help you show employers that you understand a particular role.
Working professional: grow where you are
Targeted training can help you move up in your field or prepare for a new responsibility. Identify the skills the next role up requires, from leadership to project management, and build them through focused training and certifications.
Looking to change careers: test a new field first
Short, low-cost training is a practical way to test a new field before you commit to a longer program. List your transferable skills, then try a new field with low-cost, short training before committing to a longer program. See how to change careers and the career changer hub.
Other: explore at your own pace
Explore at your own pace. Every result links to free career information. Every step of the finder is optional. Browse careers, majors and skills in any order.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the finder ask about my stage of education?
Your stage shapes your options. A high school student is choosing a first path, a college student may be adding a minor or internship, and a career changer may want to test a new field quickly. Your results explain how college and career training can fit together for you.
What should high school students do to plan a career?
Explore interests, look at the careers and majors connected to them, take career-related classes, try job shadowing or part-time work, and compare four-year college, community college, apprenticeships and short-term training.
What are my options after graduating from high school?
You can attend a four-year college, start at a community or technical college, join an apprenticeship, earn a short-term certificate, start working with on-the-job training, or join the military. Many people combine them.
Can I start career training while I am in college?
Yes. Short online career training can help you learn what a specific job involves and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree.
What can I do after graduating from college if I am unsure about my career?
Review the careers connected to your major, talk to people in roles that interest you, consider internships or entry-level roles, and use short, job-specific training or certifications to explore and strengthen your applications.
How can working professionals move up in their field?
Find out what the next role requires, then build those skills through on-the-job projects, focused training and industry certifications.
How do I change careers?
Identify your transferable skills, research fields that use them, test a new field with short, low-cost training or volunteering, and then commit to the education or credentials the new career requires.
Is it too late to go to college or start a new career?
No. Adults of every age enroll in college, earn certificates and change careers. Community colleges, online programs and short training make it easier to learn while working.
Do I have to answer this question?
No. Every step of the College & Career Finder is optional. Your answer only changes the advice shown with your results.