Train for a maritime career
Couldn't resist a late-summer dash to Long Island. Okay, seriously: With all the talk about experiential learning or trade school as an alternative to college, the main examples I hear are "plumber" and "electrician." How about marine engineering or international maritime business?
"Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a top-ranked university with 7 undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business. Our unique blend of academics and experiential learning allows students to learn theory, put that theory into practice, and graduate with both the knowledge and experience needed for a successful career." Keep reading on their website—or below.
To be clear, these are bachelor's degrees.
If you don't feel quite up to the competition and the commitment of, say, the U.S. Naval Academy, what about something like the Massachusetts Maritime Academy? They boast a placement record of 89% of their graduates 90 days after graduation. They are placed in well-paying careers involving the water. Mass Maritime is cited as one of the best return on investment colleges in the Northeast, and you get to be on the water.