Life after senior high school can be blurry if you have no guidance or counselling from family, elders in the society that understand the stage you are now. Completing senior high school is a great milestone that must not be undervalued but what happens next can change an individual life either positive or negative depending on the decision you take.
When you finish SHS in Ghana, the pressure starts the same day you drop your trunk. Your mother wants you to go to university, uncle says, “Go to Nursing Training, you will get quick job.” your friend is already selling thrift on TikTok and making money. And you are just confused.
If you just finished senior high school and still wondering on what to do next or asking yourself, am I taking the right decision, then this article is for you:
University, the wish of many.
Many senior high school graduates wish to get good grades and enroll into reputable tertiary institutions like University of Legon, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, etc but ask yourself, do I have the resources (money) for fees or everybody is enrolling so you also want to and feel belong. If you want a degree, this is a random financial mathematics consider:
Cost of university for degree in Ghana
Public University: GH₵2,500 – GH₵4,500 fees per year + GH₵3,000 hostel + feeding. Total about GH₵8,000 – GH₵12,000 a year.
Private University: GH₵7,000 – GH₵15,000 a year.
Who can go?
If you got C6 and above in all your core subjects and you want to be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, accountant, computer scientist, architect.
The Truth About University: No one will give you a job just because you have a degree. You must add a skill while on campus graphic design, video editing, public speaking, MC work, tutoring. The degree alone is not enough in Ghana now.
TRAINING COLLEGE, Nursing, Teacher Training, Agric College
training colleges is another path many underprivilege citizens take when they want to specialise in a profession like nursing, teaching and agriculture. It is also the fastest route to government payroll and government also pays student of training monthly allowance to keep them afloat.
A. Nursing & Midwifery training
There are 90+ Nursing Training Colleges (NTC) and Midwifery schools in Ghana.
Requirement: C6 in English, Core Maths, Integrated Science + C6 in 3 electives. Aggregate 24 or better
Duration: 3 years diploma. After that, you write licensure and Ghana Health Service posts you. Starting salary is around GH₵1,800 – GH₵2,500 plus allowances. You can later top up to degree.
B. Colleges of Education, Teacher training
46 Public Colleges of Education in Ghana. Now 4-year B.Ed degree.
Requirement: Similar to nursing. C6 in 3 cores and 3 electives. You get teacher trainee allowance (GH₵400) and after, GES posts you.
Good to know: If you want training college, apply early. Forms sell around January – March. And don’t pay any middleman. Apply on healthtraining.gov.gh and collegesofeducation.gov.gh yourself.
BUSINESS, Starting Small With What You Have
Many parents don’t want to hear this because they assume it’s a difficult path, but it is making sense to few who choose this path. You don’t need GH₵ 10,000 to start a business after senior high school unless you don’t know what you are about. Start with the little you have even it is GH₵ 500.
Real Businesses Young Ghanaians Are Doing After SHS:
Thrift Clothes (Foose) & Sneakers on social media:
Buy bale first selection from Kantamanto between GH₵1,000 to GH₵1,500 can give you 50 shirts. Sell each GH₵60-GH₵100. Many SHS leavers are making GH₵3,000 – GH₵5,000 profit monthly.
Food Business:
Small chops, meat pie, sobolo, fried rice in packs, banku and tilapia evening. Low capital, high demand, especially if you are in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.
Phone Accessories & Gadgets:
Phone pouch, chargers, power banks, Bluetooth speakers. Buy from China via Alibaba or from Makola. Sell at Circle or online.
Makeup, Nails, Hair Installation:
6 months training, you can charge GH₵200 – GH₵400 per client. On weekends with weddings, you can make GH₵2,000.
LEARN A HANDWORK / SKILL, The Silent Millionaires
In 2026 Accra, a good tiler charges GH₵400 per day. A POP ceiling master charges GH₵20,000 for one 3-bedroom house. They don’t have degree. If you don’t want classroom again, go and learn handwork.
Skills to learn now in Ghana:
- Solar & CCTV Installation: 3-6 months training at various ctvet approved institution across the country or some technical university short courses. Companies pay GH₵2,500+ for installers.
- Barbering & Hairdressing: Always in demand.
- Fashion & Tailoring: Especially if you learn how to sew modern styles and market on Instagram.
- Graphic Design, Video Editing, Photography: Learn free on YouTube. Start shooting birthdays, funerals, weddings. One wedding shoot: GH₵2,500 – GH₵5,000.
So how do you choose?
Don’t choose because your friend chose. Ask yourself 3 honest questions:
1. What grade did you get?
Aggregate 6-15: You have all options.
Aggregate 16-24: Focus on training college, private university, or skill/business.
Aggregate 25+: Don’t waste 2 years at home rewriting all subjects. Rewrite only failed ones as Nov/Dec OR learn a skill and start business while you rewrite.
2. What does your pocket say?
If your family cannot afford GH₵10k per year for 4 years, don’t force university and become depressed. Training college or business can give you money to later fund your degree.
3. What do you enjoy doing when no one is forcing you?
If you love talking to people and selling, business will fit you. If you love caring for sick people, nursing. If you love building things, handwork.
Final advice from Heraldgh
No matter which path you choose after SHS university, training college, business or skill, do these two things:
- Add a digital skill. Learn how to use phone to make money, graphic design on Canva, video editing on CapCut, selling on TikTok. Certificate is not enough anymore.
- Don’t sit idle at home for one year “waiting for admission”. One year idle in Ghana can become 3 years. Start something small while you wait.
There is no shame in starting small. Shame is in sitting at home doing nothing after SHS.
You can also on what to do if you fail your wassce.
What did YOU do after SHS? Tell us in the comments. Your story can help a young person reading this.
