Survey results suggest more families are questioning traditional four-year college returns and increasingly considering trade programs. One in three parents say they are open to their kids attending trade school, with career and technical education support rising sharply compared with earlier years. The shift is tied to perceived labor-market uncertainty and concerns about the cost burden of college. The reporting cites a drop in parent preference for traditional college relative to past years and highlights teens’ willingness to consider non-degree pathways. For higher education institutions, the developments raise competitive pressure on workforce-aligned programs and financial aid messaging, especially for undergraduates who may be weighing debt risk against employment outcomes.