Young Americans have been told for years that financial success starts with an expensive, four-year degree. But after watching the older generation load up on debt and struggle to pay the bills, that mindset is changing.

Instead, more young Americans are considering tech schools and skilled labor, working in fields like construction, mining and nursing that many of their older peers never would have considered.

Undergraduate enrollment at America’s four-year public colleges is 7.4% lower than it was a decade ago, a loss of around 1.5 million students as confidence in traditional education has declined. Meanwhile, there has been a surge of interest in career and trade institutions. More than 1 million part- and full-time students opted to attend for-profit career schools in the 2022-23 academic year.

“The choice to enroll in career schools is driven by flexibility, accessibility, accelerated pathways and robust student support services,” said Jenny Faubert, a spokeswoman for Career Education Colleges and Universities. CECU is an association representing 1,100 private career colleges and affiliates across North America.

Research from National Student Clearing House shows enrollment trends continue to increase for shorter-term credential programs. And even though artificial intelligence is becoming a household topic of conversation, Faubert says there will always be a need for plumbers, electricians and other trade workers, even with technological advances.

The National Mining Association is seeing a similar shift. The industry needs workers to produce the minerals America’s high-tech economy relies on, and the global demand for coal hit an all-time high of 8.7 billion tonnes in 2023.

The range of industries looking for workers who have practical skills, and not necessarily four-year degrees, includes healthcare, truck driving, aircraft mechanics and welding. Other jobs include HVAC installers and mechanics, dental assistants, culinary specialists and plumbers.

“Workforce shortages are worsening, especially as many current workers retire. This creates a high demand for skilled labor, and many of these jobs offer good pay,” Faubert said.

For students and families looking to save money and come away with little to no debt after graduation, there are schools such as Williamson College of the Trades. The faith-based institution in Media, Pa., offers scholarships for trades and technical jobs while boasting a 98% placement rate.

Similarly, the College of the Ozarks, aka “Hard Work U,” offers every student a tuition assurance scholarship on the condition they immerse themselves in an on-campus work program for 15 hours per week and two 40-hour work weeks per school year.

Mike Rowe, the podcaster and former host of “Dirty Jobs,” called the programs “the model” for trade school education.

“(They’re) doing virtually just everything right, but almost everything opposite to what you’re seeing in the Ivy League and most big public universities,” Rowe said.

Chris Woodward writes about industry and technology for InsideSources.com.