The Price of Creativity: Balancing College Costs with Career Dreams
- Matthew Hendrickson
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Matthew Hendrickson
December 16, 2025
Youthcast Media Group®
For a future doctor, skipping college is impossible. An up-and-coming surgeon can't avoid the years of classes, licensing exams, and internship and residency hours. But what about an up-and-coming cinematographer? A fine artist? A graphic designer?
For many in these creative fields, the question of whether or not to attend college – and possibly drop more than $60,000 on it– is not only a complicated debate but a hotly contested one.
In a world where YouTube tutorials, TikTok trends, and affordable software make skill-building more accessible, aspiring artists, videographers, filmmakers, and musicians have to decide between a college degree or striking out on their own.
John Greco, a former producer at Dateline NBC and PBS, who is now a partner in New Media News TV, did not follow a traditional college path to end up in broadcast journalism.
"I turned down going to journalism school at Northwestern,” he said. “I went to Boston College instead and was an English major. I just thought, you know, if I know how to write
and I know how to read critically, that will help in any profession."
That broad education, combined with learning practical skills, has been crucial throughout his career, he said.
The Burning Glass Institute reported that the proportion of jobs requiring a college degree fell from 51% in 2017 to 44% in 2021. But, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce reports that by 2031, 72% of jobs will require a college degree or post-secondary training. Many students face a tough decision when planning their careers—pursuing creative passions or choosing financially stable paths that might feel less fulfilling.
Kathleen Glynn-Sparrow, founder and head coach of The College Coaches, a counseling service that guides families through the college process, has worked with students for over 20 years. She says it’s most important for students to follow their true interests.
"When you do what you love, success will follow," she says. However, she also acknowledges the realities of college costs and future earnings, urging students to weigh the trade-offs carefully.
She pointed out that "a college degree on a resume will increase chances of getting a second look because it shows another level of commitment and intellect."
At the same time, she noted the growing trend of students opting for specialized certificates instead of traditional degrees, especially in technical fields. Her advice? "Keep the doors open" by combining creative passions with practical skills, like pursuing a double major in film and business.
The most recent unemployment rate for recent graduates, at 5.8% percent, is higher than the overall joblessness rate and more than double the rate for all workers with a college degree (2.7%), according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
It pays to be versatile, Glynn-Sparrow says. She’s seen students who combined creative passions, like film, with a business degree in order to better market themselves, live within a budget, or even run their own small side businesses.
Outside the college world, there are more nontraditional options for skill acquisition available than ever. Skillshare, MasterClass, Coursera, and similar platforms offer relatively inexpensive, sometimes free, approaches to acquiring specific skills without the cost of a degree. These options are most effective in trades and more technical fields, says Glynn-Sparrow, though they can help artists enhance their skill sets, too.
"A college degree isn't necessary to be a good videographer or audio technician," said Greco. "Those skills can be learned elsewhere. Many of the best crews I've worked with started as production assistants or grips. It can be low-paid grunt work, but it gives you a chance to work closely with camera and audio people who can show you the ropes. If you're good, they can hire you again, or recommend other gigs for you."
Another thing for people who want to pursue creative careers to consider is financial stability, especially when just starting out. Many students enter the creative industry part-time after securing nine-to-five jobs in more traditional fields. That’s often helpful for editorial freelance opportunities or internships. Likewise, part-time entry-level positions in other sectors or agencies provide stability while offering access to low-risk, high-reward opportunities—both in person and online—to build up credits, connections, and experience without fear of financial disaster, Glynn-Sparrow said.
Networking and mentoring are just as important for creative careers and for people who don’t get a college degree.
In the end, Glynn-Sparrow says, as long as you reach your goals, it doesn’t matter how you got there.
Matthew Hendrickson is a 2025 graduate of Annandale High School (AHS) in Annandale, VA, now attending James Madison University. AHS is one of Youthcast Media Group’s journalism class partners.