The workforce is changing. Skills-based hiring is becoming more popular, with those entering the workforce wondering if traditional credentialing is still worth it. Why go to a four-year college when you can get a coding certificate for a fraction of the price and make a better living? Well, studies show it's more complex. For decades, research has shown a bachelor's degree is almost always worthwhile. Those who've secured one traditionally earn 75 percent more than those with a high school diploma. Although a growing number of companies are dropping degree requirements for higher-level positions, those positions are few and far between. Jobs paying six figures or over with no degree requirements make up one percent of the American economy. High school students, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds, are looking more to career training. "Students from underserved communities are looking at education through a practical lens," said Dan Fisher, president and CEO of ECMC Group. "They want to know what the cost is, how they're going to pay, how they will get through everyday life, and whether there's a job at the end of the road." More than half, 53 percent, are open to alternative paths, and 60 percent say they can succeed without a college degree.