There are good jobs that do not require 4 yr degrees and do not require significant levels of debt to earn the required 2 yr degree. One of our adult children earned her COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) through a 2 year Allied Health program and she is employed full-time making an income above the US median income with only 1 yr of experience.
Students do need to understand that it takes more than going to college and earning a degree to be employable. It takes marketable skills, job experience/internships/research, etc. They need to make sure that they do more than simply attend classes during their 4 yrs of undergrad. It often takes more than that additional part-time job. It requires experience in their field. At graduation, employers have lots of grads to interview. The students who have experience plus grades are going to stand out above those who are relying on their degree. I’m not saying that is what your oldest did, but future employment does require planning and strategy. Students need to pursue every opportunity to make themselves marketable to future employers.
For your 2nd ds who has decided to major in chemistry, he needs to understand what a BS in chemistry means in terms of employability. What jobs will he be able to get with a BS? What is the avg income? Where are those jobs located? There is no reason to graduate with a degree and then be surprised by the job opportunities available. It requires due diligence up front.
Our family lives in a very practical world. Our family’s college goals are employment which provides self-sufficiency. We want our kids to pursue fields which they will enjoy, but they need to understand up front what that career is going to mean for them financially. If they want a different lifestyle than a certain degree will provide, they are the ones who need to reconsider. The market is not going to easily accommodate mismatched outcomes.