A: That thinking used to be largely correct, but has lost considerable clout in the last 10 years.  "Shoot[ing] higher with at least a bachelors as [the] ultimate goal." will do nothing for you if the degree is worthless to begin with.
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I am an avid listener of Mike Rowe, and his work ethic and attitudes about hard work is what is being missed by today's Millennial. You don't need an Associate's or a BA for skilled labor and technical jobs like welding, plumbing, carpentry, etc.; yet-- the shortfall for skilled positions like this is in the tens of millions nationwide.  I know many self-made millionaires that started a plumbing or heating businesses and now employ dozens of licensed skilled laborers- who never took a college course in their lives.  I think a very big problem for high schools is that they fail to differentiate between "educated," "productive," and "successful."