State of play: Richmond-area college consultants tell Axios that parents are increasingly worried about whether their child will make money or find a job tied to their major after graduation.

• Families see tuition costs rising while wages aren't keeping up with inflation, says consultant Amy Jasper.
• And they fear their kids will graduate, Jasper says, "with a student loan that's the size of a mortgage."

Plus: Job security for college graduates has weakened, especially with the rise of AI and companies being reluctant to hire amid economic uncertainty, reports Axios' Emily Peck.

• Stephanie Pluta, another Richmond-area college consultant, tells Axios more parents are focusing on their child's future profession as colleges push students to choose majors when they apply.

By the numbers: Virginia ranks fourth in the nation for average federal student loan debt, with the average borrower owing over $40,000, per the Federal Student Aid Center.

• And the average cost of in-state tuition and fees at Virginia's public universities has gone up by more than 2% for the fourth year in a row.

What they're saying: "It feels bad right now to be a recent college graduate, but it doesn't necessarily feel better to be someone with a high-school diploma who's just going onto the labor market either," Chris Martin, lead researcher on jobs site Glassdoor's economic research team, tells Axios' Peck.

• "While there may be declines in the returns to a college education, you're still better off" with one.