> more rigorous degrees with higher likelihoods of stable pay (e.g. medical/engineering)

this is the dumbest thing ever. first off, they already chased degrees that paid better -- they went STEM.

secondly, things change a lot in 4 years. the 2020 college freshman is now getting screwed for choosing STEM right now, today. 4 years ago it was a good choice, 2 years ago it was shaky, and now it's a mess.

medicine is also certainly not a solution, as programs are extremely competitive and take 8+ years to complete from undergrad through residency. and not all medical fields are magically lucrative or in demand.