It used to be that traditional four-year college degrees were the path for everyone. Students graduated from high school, earned a traditional degree, and then entered the workforce — likely working for the same company for decades.

But that’s not the case anymore. Today’s students, whether they’re attending school for the first time or acquiring skills to change careers, have an incredible variety of alternatives. Traditional higher ed isn’t the only option. And for many students, it’s not the best option.

Not every learner fits into the traditional higher education bucket, and that’s totally fine. There are viable alternatives for millions of students, career changers, and adventurers. 

Not sure what your future holds? Here are seven signs traditional higher education might not be right for you:

1. You feel unfulfilled and overwhelmed. Traditional higher ed often leads to two stressors: feeling bored, uninspired, and unfulfilled by the academic workload, or feeling overwhelmed. Both feelings can lead to apathy and distract from the material itself. If traditional education, or just the thought of it, causes burnout and feels like a means to an end, consider an alternative that can help you reach your goal more efficiently or offer a more enjoyable journey. 
2. You don’t want to wait four years to join the workforce. Traditional higher education simply isn’t a match for many people’s career goals. If you’re ready to make a difference sooner than four years and want to jump into the workforce to make money, start the next stage of your life, put a big idea into motion, or for any other reason, then why wait around in traditional classes for the next four years. The average person works 90,000 hours in their life. Every year is another 2,000 hours potentially wasted if you’re in school or in a job you don’t love. 
3. You already have an established career. Making the jump to another career doesn’t always require going back to traditional higher ed. You’ve put in the time to build your first career — there’s no reason to go all the way back to square one just because you’re ready for something new. Career changers, military veterans, and many more don’t feel the pull to traditional college when they’ve already had a great career.
4. You don’t need a degree for your desired career. It used to be everyone felt they had to follow the same path to traditional higher education and earn a degree before entering the workforce — even if they never used their degree again. The degree requirement is softening, and many employers now look at skills over a piece of paper. That approach seems to be working, as 90% of companies using skill-based hiring report fewer hiring mistakes. 
5. You thrive outside the classroom. Some people live for the discussions and lectures of a traditional classroom. Others find it uninspiring and stifling. If you’re more comfortable getting your hands dirty and solving problems, don’t feel like you have to spend time in a classroom that isn’t helping you grow.
6. You have a strong vision for your future. One of the biggest benefits of a traditional degree is that it allows students to explore different courses, activities, and potential careers. However, if you already have a solid idea of what you want to do in the future and know the skills and knowledge you need to acquire, experimenting in college might not be the best use of your time. 
7. You feel stressed about the idea of traditional higher ed. For some people, the idea of pursuing a traditional degree is daunting. If going to school is causing you stress, it could be a signthere are better options for you. Add to that stress that the cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century, and it may not be worth the price tag for something that  elicits negative feelings. 

Today’s learners have incredible opportunities, and they don’t always come through traditional higher education. Getting a traditional degree is a great option for some students, while others thrive in alternative programs. The good news: the choice is up to you, and there are a number of great choices.