Yep. If I had a kid ready for college today, I’d send them to a community college & tell them to study welding.
During our high school in-service, we had a presentation about that. Local companies are begging for skilled welders. Welders can get trained in 10 weeks at a welding school with FREE scholarships paid by the business community, and get paid upwards from $40,000 STARTING. If they upgrade their skill to underwater/nuclear welding, it goes up to $100,000.
Amazing that kids even care about spending $50,000 at a 4 year college just to NOT find a job.