I think here in Australia it's already starting to become obvious that you're better off to do a skilled trade (plumbing/ electrician etc) than go to uni, when a good professional wage is $100 - $200k and a tradie can earn that as soon as they finish their apprenticeship and start their own business. Hey, I know someone who earns 6 figures as a lawn mower man! Whereas an end of career teacher, in the private system (paid more) taking on head of department role (paid more) is just barely pushing $100k. And many non-vocational degrees lead to risky jobs in the public service that are unlikely to reach $100k even by career end. Our company has some roles for environmental scientists that are paid WAY less than that, and people are clamouring to take them - that's with a 4 year degree and doing 45 hours min per week, mostly in the field (so away from home most week nights). Why would you accept the opportunity cost of forgoing 4 + years of income, paying upwards of $25k for the privilege (our uni costs less - at least for the moment - than yours, but there are practically NO scholarships, and community / state college does not exist) for a lower wage? Something has got to give.