Why Young American Men Are Opting Out of College—And What We Can Do About It

TL;DR:

More young American men are skipping college—not because they’re lazy or unmotivated, but because the traditional higher ed model no longer makes sense to them. Between sky-high costs, uncertain ROI, and a growing disconnect from the modern job market, they’re looking for faster, cheaper, and more flexible paths to success. In this op-ed, I explore what’s driving this trend, why it matters, and how companies are helping build an alternative future where skills—not degrees—open doors.

College Is Losing Its Grip on the American Dream

A recent Bloomberg article, “Why American Men Think It’s Not Worth Going to College Anymore,” highlights a growing and concerning trend: young men are opting out of higher education in record numbers.

In 2022 alone, there were over one million fewer American men aged 18–24 enrolled in college than there were just a decade earlier. The decline is especially sharp among white and Hispanic men.

As someone who has spent my career scaling high-growth startups, including those in the education and AI space, I don’t think this is just a generational shift. It’s a symptom of a deeper issue: the traditional college pathway is no longer serving enough people well.

Why Young Men Are Walking Away

Let’s be clear—this isn’t just about apathy or disinterest. The reasons for this shift are real and nuanced:

1. Cost vs. ROI: With tuition reaching $40K+ per year at private schools, and total student loan debt now topping $1.7 trillion, many young men are doing the math and deciding college just isn’t worth it.

2. A New Era of Opportunity: Increasingly, tech companies are dropping degree requirements and hiring based on skills. There are now more entry points than ever—boot camps, certifications, creator platforms, freelancing, and even AI-assisted learning paths.

3. Cultural Disconnect: Some young men feel that college environments don’t reflect their values, interests, or identities. Add in the rise of online communities that question institutional narratives, and traditional education starts to feel... out of touch.

This isn’t to say college is obsolete. But it’s no longer the default for everyone, and we need to stop pretending it is.

The Bigger Risk: A Lost Generation

Skipping college isn’t automatically a bad choice—but when there’s no real alternative or support system in place, it becomes a risky one.

Men without college degrees are more likely to struggle with underemployment, social isolation, and long-term financial instability. They are also less likely to have access to the professional networks and soft skills that college can help develop.

And on a macro level? A decline in college-educated talent could lead to significant shortages in fields that still require specialized credentials, such as healthcare, engineering, and education.

So What’s the Solution?

Instead of doubling down on the same system, we need to reimagine the path to success. That means making room for more flexible, skill-based, and affordable ways to learn and grow. Here are four ways we can get there:

1. Elevate Career-Focused Alternatives

We should stop treating vocational training, apprenticeships, and certifications as lesser options. They’re not. In many cases, they’re faster, cheaper, and more aligned with the future of work than a four-year degree.

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ recent $250 million investment in career-focused high schools is a great example of how public-private partnerships can help shift the paradigm early, before students are buried under debt.

2. Embrace Tech-Driven Learning Models

Let’s meet young people where they are—online, on mobile devices, and highly engaged with interactive technology. Platforms like Tynker, Duolingo, and Coursera are already doing this, but we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.

At Tynker, we hear from so many high schoolers who first discovered coding through a simple classroom activity or after-school club. What starts out as fun quickly turns into a passion. Some of these students go on to earn certifications, freelance for local businesses, or land tech internships—all before graduating high school.

And many of them do this without ever setting foot on a college campus.

We’ve seen students from small towns launch their own apps, build websites for nonprofits, and enter global coding competitions. Their stories aren’t the exception—they’re a preview of what’s possible when you give kids the right tools early on.

3. Redefine Success and Masculinity

We also need to confront the cultural messages boys grow up with: that real success looks like money without emotion, that manual labor is more “masculine” than coding, or that curiosity is uncool.

Young men deserve role models who show that building, learning, mentoring, and growing are strengths, not weaknesses. We need to make space for new narratives around what it means to succeed—and who gets to define that.

4. Make Learning More Equitable and Accessible

Access remains a massive barrier. Many of the young men skipping college also lack access to high-speed internet, adult mentors, or career guidance in high school.

Whether it’s expanding broadband in rural communities, reducing tuition costs, or investing in public edtech infrastructure, we must build systems that work for everyone, not just the privileged few.

The Role of Companies and EdTech

There’s also a big opportunity here for companies—especially in tech—to play a role.

We can:

- Offer paid internships to high school students

- Remove unnecessary degree requirements

- Partner with platforms like Tynker to support early digital skill-building

- Provide learning stipends and mentorship for employees who didn’t go the traditional route

At Tynker, we believe the best way to close the opportunity gap is to open more doors earlier. That’s what drives us to create coding experiences that empower kids of all backgrounds, especially those who might otherwise be left behind.

Final Thoughts

The question isn’t whether college is still “worth it.” For many, it is. But for a growing number of young men, the better question is: what else is out there?

And if we can answer that with empathy, innovation, and opportunity, we won’t just avoid a crisis; we will also create a better future. We’ll unlock a new generation of builders, makers, and leaders who are ready to succeed on their own terms.

Lomit Patel is the Chief Growth Officer at Tynker and author of the book "Lean AI." He helps high-growth startups scale by using data, automation, and AI for growth.