For many young Californians today, the conventional trajectory from high school directly to a four-year college is being reassessed as they explore alternative routes to achieving a stable, middle-class lifestyle.

With escalating tuition fees, an unpredictable job market, and the rising impact of artificial intelligence, increasing numbers of youth are considering careers that emphasize practical training over traditional degrees.

This trend is evident in the surge of interest in trade programs and apprenticeships throughout California.

On a national level, enrollment in public two-year colleges, which are dedicated to vocational and trade education, has seen a significant uptick since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment numbers for these institutions soared to approximately 871,000 by spring 2025—marking an impressive increase of nearly 20% compared to spring 2020.

That growth has continued, although at a slower pace. In spring 2026, enrollment at high-vocational public two-year colleges increased another 2.8%, or roughly 24,000 students, according to the Clearinghouse report. 

California is particularly well positioned for the trend.

The state’s community college system says it is the largest provider of workforce training in the world, offering more than 200 career education programs, including automotive technology, engineering and skilled crafts. Officials say many programs can be completed in less than a year, with courses costing $46 per unit. 

And students are increasingly competing for spots in some of the state’s apprenticeship programs.

In Los Angeles County, the Electrical Training Institute in Commerce — which trains electricians through an apprenticeship program — says its application windows can close once 2,000 applications have been received.

The institute’s 2026 application schedule lists multiple windows, including one in July that closed after reaching the application limit. 

The appeal is straightforward: instead of spending four years paying for college before entering the workforce, apprentices can train for a skilled occupation while gaining hands-on experience.

California has nearly 100,000 active registered apprentices, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, which has made apprenticeships a central part of its workforce strategy.

The system says apprenticeships combine classroom instruction with hands-on career training and can lead to high-wage careers without student loan debt. 

That can be particularly attractive in California, where the cost of a four-year degree can quickly add up.

At the University of California, a California resident entering as an undergraduate in the 2026-27 academic year faces $14,202 in annual tuition, plus a $1,386 Student Services Fee, before housing, food, books and other expenses. 

Trade programs, by comparison, are generally designed around getting students into a specific occupation rather than requiring years of general education before they begin working.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has also made career education a central part of its Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to increase the number of students completing career programs and finding jobs in their fields while expanding pathways into in-demand occupations. 

The shift does not mean young people are abandoning college altogether.

Community college enrollment overall rose 3.1% in spring 2026, while public four-year enrollment increased 1.5%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

But vocational-focused colleges are continuing to post gains, while enrollment in some traditionally popular fields is moving in the opposite direction. 

Computer and information sciences, for example, saw undergraduate enrollment fall sharply from the previous spring — down 8.4% at four-year institutions and 11.2% at two-year institutions.

At the same time, health professions enrollment increased across award levels and institution types for a third consecutive year. 

Remember the intelligent sibling of Jason Bateman’s character from a beloved 1980s sitcom? You might be surprised to see how this former child star looks today.

This weekend, the now 55-year-old actor made headlines with his strikingly different appearance as he was spotted strolling through Los Angeles alongside his wife, who is 56.

His wife, an actress herself, gained recognition with her roles in popular TV shows like CSI: NY and Charmed.

The Southern California-born actor embraced a laid-back look, sporting a blue t-shirt matched with grey shorts, and chose slide sandals to complete his sun-friendly ensemble.

Gone are the days of his thick, dark locks; now, his hair is closely cropped and clearly thinner. The celebrity accessorized with sunglasses to keep his eyes shielded from the California sun.

The father-of-two stepped away from acting in 2004 to pursue a career as an independent life and medical insurance agent in California, but has returned to the screen in recent years. 

Can you guess who he is?  

That’s right, it’s Jeremy Licht! He famously starred in the hit show The Hogan Family.

Licht also appeared in Twilight Zone: The Movie as well as alongside Sally Field in the 1981 TV movie All The Way Home.

He was joined by wife Kimberly Wallis during his latest outing. 

Wallis showed off her legs in a pair of denim shorts paired with a grey tank top.

She topped off the look with a black hat, with her brunette hair pulled back into a ponytail.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Licht and Wallis for comment. 

Licht married Wallis in 2007. They have two children together. 

He was previously married to Carol-Ann Plante from 1996 until 2001.

Licht and Bateman played brothers on The Hogan Family, which ran from 1986 to 1991.

The Hogan Family, which was originally titled Valerie, centered on Valerie Harper as Valerie Hogan, a mother balancing raising her three sons, working at an auction house and dealing with her pilot husband’s frequent absences.

Her sons were played by Bateman as David, Licht as Mark and Danny Ponce as Willie. 

Harper left the series after two seasons due to a salary dispute. Sandy Duncan joined the cast as Sandy Hogan, the boys’ aunt who moved in and became their surrogate mother.

The show was renamed Valerie’s Family: The Hogans for its third season before becoming The Hogan Family for its final three seasons.

In June, Licht spoke about Bateman becoming like an ‘older brother’ to him on set, despite the times they ‘fought and argued.’

‘I have in real life a younger brother, so all of a sudden I had an older brother,’ he told Remind Magazine.

‘Jason was great, unbelievable professional, knew so much about, especially sitcoms,’ he said. ‘I had never really done a sitcom. I’d done an episode of something before, but never a sitcom and all of a sudden I’m booked on this show and he just knew timing.’

‘To this day, his timing is good. His cadence in everything is just amazing.’

He noted that there were times not everyone got along.

‘Was it always easy? No. We had three boys who were pre-and actively pubescent and of a certain age. And were there times that we fought and argued? Absolutely. Were we always showing up to rehearsals and professional? Absolutely.’

‘Because we experienced five years together, there can also be brutal honesty when things are challenging.’

Licht went on to say, ‘I love Jason and all of them, and my experience was all good.’

He added cast remain close to this day: ‘We still end up going to lunch every six months or so when we can all get our acts and schedules together.’

Licht’s most recent acting credit was in the 2025 short film Star-Crossed. His other notable credits include the 1980 TV movie The Comeback Kid, alongside John Ritter, and the 2023 short mystery thriller Seat 23B.