While most wouldn’t argue that a four-year college degree is a worthwhile investment, it’s certainly not the only way to find professional success and financial security.

“There are many high school grads who simply can’t afford four years of college,” Tony Lee, the publisher of job search website CareerCast.com said to MSNBC.

“…rather than have them focus on what they’re missing, our goal is to show them there are jobs for which you don’t need a degree that will provide a great career. We want to show them that there are still great career options, and that they can make a comfortable living.”

CareerCast.com picked 20 of the best jobs that don’t require a four-year degree but still carry a great income and growth potential. Here are the top three:

Number one on their list are dental hygienists. The job description includes cleaning teeth, checking patients for oral diseases and providing preventative dental care.

According to Lee, it’s a great job to have whether you have a four-year degree or not.

“It ranks highly for work environment, hiring outlook, income, low stress and minimal physical activities. Training is required, but it will cost far less than a four-year degree,” he said.

For those who believe that this could be the career path for them, dental hygienists do need an associate’s degree as well as extensive training, but the pay-off include an average salary of $45,000. With a 109 percent potential growth increase, your earnings may even double over time.

Next on the list is online sales manager. This job includes reviewing consumer markets, developing strategies to increase sales and preparing financial budgets. Starting salary averages $40,000 but has a 255 percent growth potential.

Job number three is web developer. Web developers make an average starting salary of $43,000 and have the potential to see a 179 percent growth rate. From 2010 to 2020, this career track is project to see a 21.7 percent increase.

“You’d be surprised by how many people don’t have a college degree that are perfectly happy in their careers,” Lee said. “Parental pressure and societal expectations tell many high school students that the natural next step is college. That’s what has been preached for a while. But if earning a college degree isn’t right for you, or you can’t afford it, you still have plenty of great opportunities. The bottom line is that you need to take a job that will make you happy and help you advance your career, with or without a degree.”