one of my kids wants to go into a trade. I've told him my main request is that he get a business degree to go with it. a local four year college offers one quite reasonably.
i went to a big, nationally known college myself. it was insanely expensive, my parents took on debt, and i had student loans. i lived within my means and paid them off over time. it wasn't fun but it was manageable. looking back, the degree that got me into my career could have been from several other, less expensive colleges. but as an 18 year old, the premise of "this place is more elite, it must be better!" held me in it's grasp.
the myths that "only successful x come from university y" is part of the problem.