Beyond the Four-Year Degree: Opening Doors to Opportunity

May 5, 2025

Not every child dreams of a traditional four-year college experience — and that’s okay. In fact, there’s a growing awareness among students, parents, and educators alike that vocational paths offer meaningful, rewarding careers without the time and cost of a bachelor’s degree. Whether it’s becoming a skilled welder, licensed electrician, dental hygienist, or commercial pilot, today’s workforce needs tradespeople more than ever — and those opportunities continue to grow.

Choosing a Vocational Path

Vocational education focuses on practical, career-specific training rather than general academic instruction. It prepares students for jobs in technical or skilled trades, healthcare, mechanical fields, information technology, and more. These programs can often be completed in two years or less through trade schools, community colleges, apprenticeships, or certification programs.

Many of these careers offer strong job prospects, competitive salaries, and lower student debt. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of the fastest-growing occupations require an associate degree or certification rather than a traditional four-year degree.1 And as industries evolve, so do the training options — giving kids a variety of exciting, hands-on careers to choose from.

NEST 529: Made for Careers

NEST 529 Education Savings Plans can go beyond the traditional college trajectory, offering flexible educational savings for diverse career paths. Funds can be used to pay for tuition at thousands of eligible institutions — public and private colleges, universities, and vocational, trade, technical, and professional institutions across the U.S. plus some foreign schools. That means families saving with NEST 529 can support a child’s education, whether they’re studying electrical technology, aviation maintenance, culinary arts, and more.

In addition to covering tuition, NEST 529 Education Savings Plan accounts can be used tax-free for qualified education expenses, including fees, books, supplies, room and board, and certain apprenticeship program expenses.2 This flexibility gives families peace of mind, knowing their savings can follow their child’s unique aspirations — wherever those may lead.

Saving Smart for Any Path

Choosing a vocational path doesn’t mean limiting future options — it means focusing on a child’s strengths and interests to build a career with purpose. Whether your loved one is drawn to working with their hands, helping people in healthcare, or tackling problems with technical skills, vocational training offers a strong foundation for growth and advancement.

Designed to help families plan ahead, NEST 529 offers a simple, flexible, and tax-advantaged way to confidently invest in those vocational futures.

Learn more about the features of NEST 529 Education Savings and start your savings journey today.

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2022–2032, www.bls.gov/emp/tables/fastest-growing-occupations.htm back

2 Withdrawals used to pay for qualified higher education expenses are free from federal and Nebraska state income tax. Qualified higher education expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance; certain room and board expenses incurred by students who are enrolled at least half-time; the purchase of computer or peripheral equipment, computer software, or Internet access and related services, if used primarily by the beneficiary during any of the years the beneficiary is enrolled at an eligible educational institution; certain expenses for special needs services needed by a special needs beneficiary; apprenticeship program expenses; and payment of principal or interest on any qualified education loan of the Beneficiary or a sibling of the Beneficiary (up to an aggregate lifetime limit of $10,000 per individual). However, earnings on all other types of withdrawals are generally subject to federal and Nebraska state income taxes, and an additional 10% federal tax.

Nebraska law does not treat the following Federal Qualified Higher Education Expenses as Nebraska Qualified Expenses: K–12 Tuition Expenses. If a withdrawal is made for such purposes, although it is a Federal Qualified Withdrawal, it will be treated as a Nebraska Non-Qualified Withdrawal and may result in the recapture of a previously claimed Nebraska state income tax deduction, and the earnings portion will be subject to Nebraska state income tax. Please consult your tax professional about your particular situation. back

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