Father Judge High School students talk about their skills on GMA

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Some students who are about to graduate high school are taking a different approach, and cashing in along the way.

They're choosing to forgo college and learn the trades in school instead, often graduating with $70,000 job offers.

Father Judge High School in Northeast Philadelphia has a program that is leading the way.

They were featured on GMA Thursday morning.

All 24 students in the school's welding program are graduating with job offers.

That includes 18-year-old Marcos Tigreros.

"It was hard for me to get good grades and I didn't know how the college route was going to go for me. But when I saw the welding program, I saw an opportunity to be successful like other college students without needing that degree," Tigreros said.

Trade programs are growing in popularity at high schools across the country.

It comes as one in four American adults still carries college debt.