How does that opinion hold if you remove the student loan debt aspect? We will pay my daughter's way through school, so she will have no debt upon graduation. Given that, it would seem to me the higher earnings potential from a traditional college degree would hold more potential.
Not necessarily applicable to everyone, but a consideration.
It's definitely a consideration. If both college and trade school were free, it seems like the pros and cons would be:
College
Pros:
Meeting other powerful people (and/or their children. I did not realize this at 17 but it has turned out to be very true.)
Broadening your horizons automatically (you'll meet people from different countries, etc. I agree you can do this on your own without college, but it's sort of automatic for college)
Higher income potential
More options (if she wants to become a doctor or professor or lawyer or other graduate degree-holding person)
In my experience (as a daughter, granddaughter and friend of people in the trades), it's a nicer place to be a woman
Trade School
Pros:
Less lost income, as you spend less time in school before working and start your way up the salary scale earlier in life
No need for further graduate education to set you on a path for peak earnings
Pensions, health insurance, etc
Guaranteed (above average, if not astronomical) salary