Getting a university degree was once seen as a useful path to a lucrative career. Yet high tuition fees are deterring many, especially given that employers are increasingly looking beyond academics, instead considering a range of other factors. So is the traditional degree a thing of the past?

Driven by the evolving relationship between learning and earning, a desire for a more fulfilling life, and shifts in the job market, an increasing number of mid- to late-careerists are returning to education. How are people acquiring knowledge outside of college? And what are they hoping to achieve?

With just 32% of US graduates believing college has prepared them for a career, Gen Zers are exploring all their options. Combining four years of world travel with collaborative study and immersive work experiences, Minerva is redefining what it means to be a student in the 21st century.

High tuition fees mean that many people no longer equate money spent on education with value or quality. Free digital education systems are providing the workforce with all the knowledge they need to grow, which could render traditional forms of learning redundant in the not-too-distant future.