ask them what they want to do instead. I went to college and had a fulfilling & debt-free experience so if they were worried about that I could give them guidance on it, but I'm not going to push them into it because 1) that's how your kids resent you, 2) doing something for 4+ years that your heart isn't into is not good for your mental health, and 3) there are lots of viable options aside from college. I won't say a college degree means NOTHING because I don't think that's true at all, but it's also pretty evident that you don't need one to make a financially & emotionally fulfilling living