For decades, a four-year college degree was widely considered the standard path to most mid-level jobs in the United States. It was the expected entry point to landing a job as a marketing specialist, project manager, IT support analyst, among other roles.
But this expectation is changing. Many sectors—including cybersecurity, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing—face a severe shortage of skilled workers. The gap between available skilled jobs and workers will likely lead employers to rethink what they require of candidates over the next decade.
A major demographic shift will also influence this. Between 2024 and 2032, an estimated 18.4 million experienced workers with education beyond high school are expected to retire, according to September 2025 findings from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.
Only 13.8 million young workers with similar educational levels are expected to enter the labor market during the same period, these results show. This trend will also make it more difficult for employers to fill positions that traditionally require a college degree.
At the same time, 25 states have passed laws and executive orders in recent years to eliminate college degree requirements for those applying for some public sector jobs, signaling a shift in how essential college degrees are to being hired for certain types of jobs.
These changes underscore a broader trend: A four-year college degree is no longer essential for many types of jobs.
Hiring data tells a similar story. As of January 2024, 52% of US job postings on Indeed did not mention any formal education requirements, up from 48% in 2019. Job postings requiring at least a college degree also fell from 20.4% to 17.8% between 2018 and 2023.
As hiring expectations change—influenced in part by advances in artificial intelligence—employers may struggle to find candidates who already have the right specific skills for each position.
With more than 20 years of experience as teachers who also train employees in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare and business information technology, we believe that college degrees should not be mandatory for some jobs.
A widening gap
Nearly half of recent college graduates say they feel unprepared for entry-level jobs, and 56% cite a lack of job-specific skills as the biggest problem, according to a 2025 report from Cengage Group, a job education and training company.
Alternative pathways—apprenticeships, certifications, and on-the-job training—can provide workers with practical skills and help employers fill critical positions more quickly.
Employers waiving degree requirements is just one step toward this goal. We also believe it is important for prospective college students and their families to be aware of educational opportunities beyond a traditional four-year degree.
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Understanding Polytechnic Universities
Some people think of higher education in terms of traditional liberal arts colleges or research universities. But there are also polytechnic universities, which focus on practical, career-oriented learning and emphasize strong STEM and technical programs. These schools often prepare students for precisely the types of jobs that employers have difficulty filling.
There are about 10 major polytechnic universities in the US. Some recognized polytechnic universities are California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute in Marcy and Albany, New York.
Instead of offering a wide variety of liberal arts majors, polytechnic universities offer specialties such as engineering, robotics, construction management, and information technology.
A central feature of these schools is applied learning: hands-on labs, real-world projects, and problem-solving experiences.
Polytechnic students can earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but they also typically earn short-term certificates in fields such as human resources, instructional design, project management, and digital marketing. Many programs also include apprenticeships, such as specialist job training.
Students can also earn microcredentials, which include short course sequences that develop specific skills, such as business writing or engineering mechanics. These options offer students more flexible and affordable ways to learn without committing to a traditional four-year degree.
Polytechnic universities also typically cost less than research universities and private colleges, and students can rely on federal financial aid or private loans to attend.
There are some limitations. Polytechnic schools tend to offer fewer degrees, generally within STEM fields. Their alumni networks may be smaller, and we have found that some people perceive them as less prestigious than traditional universities because they focus more on teaching than research.
Real world relevance
In March 2025, we asked 10 online teachers from different polytechnic universities how they incorporate career-oriented learning into their classes.
Our research, likely to be published in 2026, shows that all teachers tried to make their courses relevant to real work environments.
Some teachers used simulations in the course. Others shared examples from their own industry journeys with students. They all agreed that students learn best when they can clearly connect their studies to their career goals.
One of the most effective strategies is to hire instructors with extensive experience in the sector. Their professional networks help programs stay aligned with the skills employers currently value.
Not all universities want to become polytechnics, and not all students want that type of education.
However, traditional universities can still learn from this model by adding more applied learning, integrating essential job skills into their programs, and collaborating more closely with industry. These changes can better prepare students to succeed in the job market.
*Kelly Droege is an associate professor and Laura Reisinger is an associate professor of Information and Communication Technologies, both at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
This article was originally published on The Conversation/Reuters
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