Trade Hype Masks College Net Price

Public rhetoric urging young people into the trades often rests on an exaggerated claim about college costs and the presumed quick earnings advantage of trades; in reality the average net price paid for in‑state public four‑year tuition is far lower than sticker price (the article cites under $2,500 in 2024) and causal research still finds a persistent college earnings premium, so advice should weigh credential value, selection effects, and physical risks. — Clarifying the difference between advertised college sticker prices and actual net prices reframes decisions about post‑secondary paths and challenges politically potent 'trades vs. college' talking points.