My son resolutely decided university was not for him. That it was a big debt and that he was ready for work and there were no graduate jobs. I supported this fully.
Anyway the reality has been that he hasnt found one good quality job. He actually has a portofolio of jobs. Some that pay well but he is already maximum they will pay and others are boring and low paid and he doesnt want to do those long term. People in his team have done them a long while and very few 'work there way up" and the middle layers dont pay much more anyway and the higher layers have degrees. There are opportunities in construction in particular for young people to make there way, but otherwise not having a degree doesnt really make the job market easier either.
He wants a chance at doing some work that does advertise that a degree is needed. He knows its a gamble. He might get the degree and still do those exact jobs he does now. Or he might get a chance to progress in those jobs more quickly, or even get a graduate job within his field within 5 years of his degree that he likes. He intends to keep the well paid jobs through his degree.
He thinks the learning will be interesting. He wants more academic knowledge and missed learning stuff that wasnt related to earning whilst he's been out of education.
He also felt that the debt, whilst real, was worth it. In that if he was stuck in a low paid job the payment remain low but at least he had 3 interesting years, if he gets a good job they pay off quickly. They are a bit of a bind for mid range earners as they payments are enough to notice but last 40 years, but he is realistic about that being the most likely outcome.
He also looked at emigrating and found lots of countries want graduates in thier points system.