More parents are done pushing college. 1 in 3 are now betting on trade school instead |
More parents are done pushing college. 1 in 3 are now betting on trade school instead
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.
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’t require a degree, while entry-level job opportunities for recent graduates remain sparse.
Some parents are so anxious about today’s job market that they’re 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’ plans post high school.
The fact that 35% of parents believe career and technical education is best suited for their children represents a major jump—from just 13% in 2019, according to Britebound. While parents still prefer traditional college for their kids, it’s much less so than in the past. The percentage of parents preferring it dropped to 58%—a 16 percentage point drop from 2019.
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.
“Parents are waking up. College doesn’t carry the same [return on investment] it once did,........