Research Paper The International Journal of Indian Psychology ISSN 2348-5396 (e) | ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) Volume 7, Issue 1, DIP: 18.01.030/20190701 DOI: 10.25215/0701.030 http://www.ijip.in | January- March, 2019 © 2019, Hariyadi, S, Nuke, M, Anto, A.H; licensee IJIP. This is an Open Access Research distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any Medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Career Decision Self Efficacy and Psychological Distress in Non- Formal Education Students Sugeng Hariyadi 1 , Nuke Martiarini 2 *, Abdul Haris Fitri Anto 3 ABSTRACT In Indonesia, many school children experience school dropouts. Some of them experience psychological problems which then trigger the emergence of stress (psychological distress), one of the things predicted to be related to this condition is the low Career Decision Self- Efficacy (CDSE). The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between Career Decision Self-Efficacy (CDSE) and psychological distress in Non-Formal Education Students . The research method used is quantitative correlational research with a population covering all students chasing packages in Semarang district. There are 2 instruments with the model when likert used. Based on the analysis results, it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between Career Decision Self-Efficacy (CDSE) and Psychological Distress in both two groups. Descriptively, Career Decision Self Efficacy (CDSE) and psychological distress are in average level. Keywords: Psychological distress , Career Decision Self Efficacy (CDSE) Education is one of the important keys to advancing a nation. Through education, children are honed so that they can formulate their life goals. It is fitting for the public to be aware of the importance of education. But in reality, talking about the level and awareness of the importance of education in Indonesia is still rather alarming, and is still PR for the government. This is indicated by the number of school dropouts that cannot be underestimated. According to Indonesian Child Profile data (2012), the dropout rate of children aged 7-17 years in 2011 was 2.9%. Whereas in 2012, the dropout rate in the 7-12 year age group was 0.6%, the age group 13-15 years reached 2.21%, the age group 16-17 years the school dropout rate was 2.32%, more In detail, almost half (49.51%) of children aged 7-17 years who drop out of school are caused by lack of costs, 9.2% due to work, 3.05% due to marriage or taking care of the household, and the rest for other reasons, besides, there are still around 1% percent of students aged 16-17 years who do not have the ability read and 1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Semarang State University 2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Semarang State University 3 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Semarang State University *Responding Author Received: January 1, 2019; Revision Received: February 7, 2019; Accepted: February 11, 2019