To wonder if you can earn a good living without a degree?

[Monsterellacheese]

I'm thinking of dropping out of a part time degree that I've been trying to do on/off for 5 years whilst raising a family. Ive lost interest and I can't keep relying on DP to provide, as has feeling the pinch now.

I never had a career or a proper job beforehand just admin, retail and cleaning.

A few people I've been speaking to have told me to get the degree, I won't regret, it will open doors and lead to a high paying career etc.

Thing is, my DP doesn't have GCSE'S. He got on to an apprenticeship in business and is on a decent salary. I'm thinking of going down the same route. I'll have a level 4 qualification if I drop out now and I dont see what a psychological studies degree would even lead me to when I more interested in a career in finance.

I want to drop out, but I also dont want to either in case I regret it in the long run

My husband works in finance and does not have a degree. This has hindered him in the past. People assume he has one as the vast majority do in his role and he has lost out to promotions due to lack of a degree. The feedback has been that the potential employers don’t really care what the degree was in either.

DH doesn't have a degree. He is mid 30s and was an Associate Director in a sales consultancy business (before setting up on his own). When employed, he was earning 100-120k pa.

If you have the right personality, a sales role can see you earning well without a degree behind you.

@Monsterellacheese

Seriously? He's a professional, yet can't progress because he doesn't have a degree? That takes the biscuit

That was foe Pathofleaatresistance

I think it's possible if you have very good vocational/trade skills and certifications or sales. But more and more, it's harder to do and for every person who's earning high salary in their 40s or 50s without a degree (or the vocational/trade or in sales), if they get made redundant it would probably be seriously hard for them to get another job like that.

I think people already established in careers can do well without a degree, starting from fresh now may struggle.

My husband and I both have degrees and work in senior jobs, but to progress need to do masters now. Husbands doing his, I'm not so I'll likely plateau now whilst he'll continue up. Both work public sector in senior management.

Obviously there's always exceptions and the example of sales is the perfect one. Getting in the door is the hardest bit

Good luck!

There are qualifications you can take that are not a degree but are similar level which will end up being more important. If you want to work in finance, can you get a role in finance and see if you can get them to sponsor eg AAT qualifications?

Depends on where you are. I live in a small island country but everyone is so educated here that having a Masters degree is considered average. Any professional role here requires a Bachelors degree, maybe a professional membership/certification as well (such as CIPS, SHRM, ASME etc) AND management roles usually require an MBA as well. All roles, even beginner ones also require considerable experience which is so frustrating when you're just starting out. You need a minimum of five good GCSE passes just to work at a KFC outlet here.

It may be different in the UK where there is less saturation of educated persons and more job opportunities but you're hardly likely to regret gaining a qualification. Even if it's not a degree, a professional certification would be very useful.

My husband left school at 16 with barely any GCSEs and worked for 3 years at a supermarket before getting a job in London for a huge global company. He worked his way up but then decided at the age of 24 it wasnt what he wanted so left and worked a local admin job for 18 months before returning to London to work in IT which is his passion. Hes been back in London for 3 years across 3 jobs working his way up and now is an IT manager of an international finance company and turning later 30 this year.
You can definitely get where you want without degrees etc.

My boss' boss has no degree. Not even from a bad uni but I can assure you he earns a good living. He is on a six figure salary with six figure bonuses plus stock options and God knows what else. I'd say that's earning a good living. And I am sure there are plenty of stories like that.

Why did you choose to do a degree in the first place? You certainly don’t need a degree to have a well paid, successful career, but some careers do require them to even start.

Well it's not essential to have a degree to earn a good wage, but it can help. It depends a lot on what industry you want to go in. Some industries insist on higher level qualifications, and some aren't as worried.

How long do you have before you'd finish your degree, OP? There is the sunk cost but if you are close, it might be helpful to complete. As PPs have said, it often doesn't matter what the degree is in.

Someone can earn a good living but in the UK, it is harder to do so. Before you quit, what would be your plan and what would you need?

I think increasingly in industry Degrees are needed more .My DB has an Accountancy degree and has progressed well .His opposite number does not have a degree, and was made redundant about a year ago . Also it gives a breath of knowledge /confidence as well

My ex (father of my DS) earns over £50k as a train driver and hasn't got a qualification to his name.

Most of the people I know who are high earners with no degree are self employed and have built their own business.

Why did you choose to do a degree in the first place?

Interest in the subject. I've been raising a family alongside and have grown tired of the content. I would rather work and be in the real world working towards something.

I have a degree.
DH only did his functional skills maths and English last year aged 39.

We earn basically the same money. I went into the Civil Service and the Police. He joined the Royal Navy.

He lives his job, I hate mine. I think you need to find the skills, job and role you love and if you need a degree for it, you know what you need to do.

How long do you have before you'd finish your degree, OP?

About 1.5 years left. I could complete all the level 5 modules in the next 5 months. I'm just tired and unmotivated. Feel like I can't go on.

Maybe a degree apprenticeship? Work and study at the same time in something I enjoy. If I'm not too old at 28 that is.

The most important thing is how far away are you from completing the degree?

Sorry, x-posted. Would your University let you take some time out to recharge your batteries?

After all this work I'd push myself to get it finished

Completing it will be good for jobs/role where a degree, any degree, is necessary like finance. And completing one part time demonstrates real dedication

So you’re nearly there - I’d finish it personally. It doesn’t show a lot of grit if you give up after working on it for so long and getting close.

I’m not sure I know anyone working in finance without a degree, and there are plenty of school parents in that field. I’m sure it’s possible but why male it harder for yourself when you’re nearly there?

My husband doesn't even have any school qualifications let alone a degree , he went to sea as a trawler man at 15 and never looked back. He is a offshore driller now and earns over £100k working abroad. Education helps but isn't everything.

I'd say if you already gave it 5 years of your life, stick it out and finish your degree! If looks good on your resume and could give you an automatic advantage over other candidates, even if the degree is irrelevant to the job!

And another vote for sales, my DH is a sales director in his 30s, uni dropout.