I think every AA kid should be pushed to get a degree...and parents should mentor and FOCUS their kids on what career they truly are interested in. What I see is kids shucking and jiving, not being serious about their life, the parents not giving them the guidance and pressure to be serious and when they graduate...they still have the mentality of a freshman with no real future outlook in their heads. I see this with my own kids sometimes...but withhold some money until they understand what has to be completed...and it works.
As far as steering them into fields that are paying so much more...make sure the kids has an aptitude/attitude/and desire to be there otherwise, mediocrity will abound and they will fail. Don't believe all the hype, jobs are available...folks just want the plum jobs.
Case in point, I was SHOCKED when Yahoo had an article listing most agriculture majors as obsolete in the future. 
I couldn't believe that an area that is the largest employer and is the producer of foodstuff was deemed obsolete...so out of touch...
Maybe, the trend should be to advise your child how to go to school without incurring a huge loan bill...