Good news for new high school graduates who don't think college-level algebra or freshman English is their thing. A study released Wednesday finds that certificates awarded through short-term vocational training programs can reap a bigger payoff than a bachelor's degree. The devil, of course, is in the details. It's more true for men than women, for Hispanics than blacks. And technology fields are more lucrative than, say, cosmetology. But generally, short-term degree programs that focus on specific occupations can be "the fastest, cheapest way to get a job that pays," says Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce/Mary Beth Marklein, USA Today. More here.

Question: Do you still think that a college degree is the best way to get a good-paying job?