As US college enrollment declines, trade programs are booming

Colleges are seeing few students register for classes across America. Instead, many students are opting into trade schools that offer more affordable and promising paths to a job.

While almost every sector of higher education has fewer students registering for classes, many trade programs are thriving. Jones and his classmates, seeking certificates and other short-term credentials — not associate degrees — are part of that upswing.

Trade programs are often more affordable than a traditional four-year degree, students note, and, for many, skilled trades offer a more obvious path to a job.