I played this out back in 1976. I was fortunate to graduate from college with no debt (had a 75% tuition discount with dad's job at Penn State, and I lived at home, and worked while in school.) Got a job after graduation working as a writer for a medical newspaper group. Paid $8500 per year, and quickly realized I'd never be able to afford a GTX on that pay. Saved my money for a year, then quit and went to truck driver school.
Three years later, I was making $30k per year, and owned my first truck. My parents were distraught that I was no longer using my degree. For me, making 50% more than my tenured college professor dad, made it easy to take. My parents breathed a sigh of relief when I sold the first truck and used the money I'd saved to attend law school, rather than buying a new rig.
Six months after I passed the bar exam, I was back driving full time. Although I finally managed to use my education at the peak of my career, I eventually ended up behind the wheel again, for the last 20 years of my career. I think every potential college student should go through vocational training as a prerequisite to enrollment.