June 24, 2025
Trade Schools Are Cool Again
Why More Young Americans Are Skipping College—and Thriving With Plumbing, Coding, and Electrician Careers Instead When Apprenticeships Trump Degrees—and Why That’s Awesome Across the country, young Americans are ditching traditional 4-year colleges in favor of trade schools, apprenticeships, and skill-based programs. And it’s not just a phase. According to recent data, interest in trade school is up over 100% in the last two years. Apprenticeships? Up more than 230%. It’s not hard to see why. With the average student debt hitting $37,000, young adults are questioning whether college is still the smartest investment. Take Chase Gallagher, for example—a 24-year-old who