Back in our day, college was much cheaper, and the cost of tuition, room and board was within reach of most families. For those for whom it wasn't, state colleges and universities were reasonably enough priced so students could work and pay their own way.
It would be so much better if a very large percentage of those now going into debt for college degrees they're not qualified for would be in a trade skill, developing a talent that would provide job opportunity and knowledge appropriate to their interests and aptitudes. The sad irony is that so many of those without real aptitude for college work go into so much debt that that technical training is no longer affordable for them.
i ended up becoming an electrician myself, didn’t accumulate much debt in the trade school, and well, had a growing vocation that allowed me to get started paying off for the degree that I actually earned.
If there’s anything underrated today, it’s the trades.