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Many parents and kids alike are wondering whether college has the same return on investment it once did. And they have reason to worry: Hiring just hit a level not seen since the economy was “closed down literally” during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Going to college was once seen as a one-way ticket to a successful and lucrative career. Still, there are a growing number of six-figure jobs that don\u2019t require a degree, while entry-level job opportunities for recent graduates remain sparse. <\/p>\n
Some parents are so anxious about today\u2019s job market that they\u2019re exploring alternatives to the four-year degree, with one in three open to the idea of their kids attending a trade school instead, according to late 2025 survey results from Britebound (formerly American Student Assistance), which surveyed more than 2,200 parents of middle and high school students about their attitudes, perceptions, and decision-making regarding their kids\u2019 plans post high school. <\/p>\n
The fact that 35% of parents believe career and technical education is best suited for their children represents a major jump\u2014from just 13% in 2019, according to Britebound. While parents still prefer traditional college for their kids, it\u2019s much less so than in the past. The percentage of parents preferring it dropped to 58%\u2014a 16 percentage point drop from 2019.<\/p>\n
And another study from Britebound last summer shows it goes both ways: 70% of teens also report their parents are more supportive of forgoing a college education for something different, like trade school or an apprenticeship. <\/p>\n
\u201cParents are waking up. College doesn\u2019t carry the same [return on investment] it once did, because the cost is outrageous, and the outcome is uncertain,\u201d Trevor Houston, a career strategist at ClearPath Wealth Strategies, previously told Fortune. \u201cStudents now face the highest amount of debt ever recorded, but job security after graduation doesn\u2019t really exist.\u201d<\/p>\n
The average cost of college in the U.S. is more than $38,000 (including tuition and room and board) per student per year, according to the Education Data Initiative, and the average cost of college has more than doubled this century. Private schools almost always cost more than the average. Meanwhile, more than 4 million Gen Zers are jobless and blame their \u201cworthless\u201d college degrees. <\/p>\n
Trade jobs that pay six figures without a degree<\/p>\n
One of the primary reasons trade school is becoming a more popular option for students is its potentially strong ROI, especially as college becomes more expensive and fewer traditional entry-level jobs are available. And many can land recent high school grads six-figure salaries. <\/p>\n
According to the National Society of High School Scholars, some trade jobs that don\u2019t require a college degree and pay six figures include:<\/p>\n
Aircraft mechanics ($135,628)<\/p>\n
Plumbers, pipe fitters, and steamfitters ($132,275)<\/p>\n
Construction managers ($130,000)<\/p>\n
Industrial electricians ($122,500)<\/p>\n
Energy technicians ($115,076)<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, the need for these workers will continue to grow, especially as older generations who work in trades start to retire, Julie Lammers, president and CEO at Britebound, previously told Fortune. <\/p>\n
\u201cAn aging workforce in the trades and a surge in demand to meet infrastructure needs, ever-growing real estate demands, and changes to U.S. energy production mean that there are considerably more job openings than skilled workers to fill the need,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
How much does trade school cost vs. college?<\/p>\n
Aside from trade school, students can also pursue apprenticeships, career-training programs, boot camps, industry certifications, and occupational licenses. Many of these are just pennies on the dollar compared with earning a college degree. A coding boot camp can cost as little as $7,000\u2014and that\u2019s just a one-time fee as compared with nearly $40,000 for one year of college. <\/p>\n
These career paths made possible by trade schools, apprenticeships, boot camps, and other training and certification programs were dubbed by IBM as \u201cnew-collar jobs.\u201d In October 2017, IBM launched its apprenticeship program to train people for new-collar jobs that prioritize skills over degrees and focus on in-demand job functions like cybersecurity, design, data science, mobile development, cloud, artificial intelligence, and blockchains\u2014all career paths that can also lead to six-figure salaries. <\/p>\n
The Trump administration in late 2025 also announced its Tech Force program, which does not require a college degree or work experience for technology professionals who are willing to serve two-year stints at federal agencies. If you\u2019re accepted to the program, you can earn about $150,000 to $200,000, given the demand for tech professionals in today\u2019s rapidly evolving tech landscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a clarion call,\u201d Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, said in a statement at the time. \u201cIf you want to help your country lead in the age of rapid technological advancement, we need you.\u201d<\/p>\n
In March, OPM also launched the\u00a0Early Career Talent Network, a recruitment push for entry-level federal workers. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got close to half of our population that\u2019s within 10 years of retirement age,\u201d Kupor told Fortune’s Sasha Rogelberg. \u201cSo if you just did nothing else, you\u2019ve got this major demographic challenge of a large number of people who will likely either retire or certainly be retirement-eligible over the near term, without us actually replenishing the pipeline of early-career people coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n
A version of this story was originally published on Fortune.com on Dec. 19, 2025.<\/p>\n
More on trade school:<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve owned and operated trade schools for 40 years and Gen Z is onto something: They recognize the value of vocational education<\/p>\n
AI boom is fueling demand for skilled trades\u2014and demand for technicians, HVAC workers, and electricians is soaring, with six-figure salaries to match<\/p>\n
\u2018College doesn\u2019t carry the same ROI it once did\u2019: 70% of teens say their parents support them going to trade school or getting an apprenticeship<\/p>\n
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com<\/p>\n
#parents #pushing #college #betting #trade #school<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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