These days, college isn’t as important as people would have you believe. In a survey conducted by CNBC and SurveyMonkey, results showed that 56 percent of small business owners do not have a four-year degree. In another study of people who did go to college, only 27 percent of them were offered a class on entrepreneurship.

Learning about entrepreneurship is an essential part of creating a thriving business, and if colleges aren’t going to offer this skill, then you’ll have to seek out your education elsewhere. Here are four alternative options to a four-year degree that will improve your chances of professional success.

Amway Education

Amway Connections is one of the leading independent business ownership companies in the country, and the company is trying to teach entrepreneurial skills to its employees through its Amway Education program. According to its Global Entrepreneurship Report, 63 percent of respondents felt that entrepreneurship could be taught and learned.

The Amway Education program is separated into four different series entitled Get Started, Build Your Business, Grow to Leadership, and Be a Leader. Each module educates you on the tools you need to be success in the organization as an independent business owner. By the time you finish this course, you’ll have many of the skills you need to build a thriving business.

Small Business Development Centers

If you have a great idea for a small business, but just don’t have the skills necessary to get started, then a small business development center (SBDC) could be the right educational path for you. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBDCs provide technical assistance and support business growth through one-on-one advising and training. In this type of program, you’ll be able to learn more about developing a business plan, researching the market, learning how to obtain funds and how to hire contractors.

Currently, there are over 900 SBDCs throughout the country provided by 63 hosts, including 48 universities, eight community colleges and seven states.

RightSkill

If you’re not quite ready to take the leap into small business ownership, then RightSkill might be the perfect starting point for you. As a partnership between Capella Learning Solutions and CareerBuilder, RightSkill provides learners with the professional skills they need to enter the workforce. It offers non-degree classes paired with real-time labor data to help students embark on a number of careers, including assistant restaurant management, entry-level staffing, customer service and more.

For those who want to start working and making money right away, this program is a good stepping stone into the business world.

Coding Classes

The starting salary for an entry-level web developer ranges between $61,000 and $99,000. With that kind of payoff, you might expect coders to need an advanced degree. However, you’d be wrong, as many professional coders needing only skills and experience to land high-paying jobs. If you don’t have any coding skills, there are a number of programs out there that will teach you them for free in just a few weeks, including Code Academy, University Consortium or Khan Academy.

Because there’s a lack of women in this field, there are also programs geared specifically for female coders to break into the business. To enroll and embark on this career, all you have to do is perform a little research.

Being successful in life doesn’t require a fancy degree. By following these alternative education pathways, you can improve your financial standing and pay off any outstanding debt associated with your name.