[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Why do the colleges need saving? They seem to be doing quite well. It's the students that need help, and it's not complicated. What is the job that this college/major will get you? What will the schooling cost? What does said job pay? Then do a quick budget to determine how quickly it can be paid back. If it's more than about 5 years, better think about your decision.

The problem is kids (or parents) who will to throw a ton of money at either a worthless major, or a "prestigious" college that doesn't provide any real world advantage. Or those that go to college to "find yourself". Please. I took a few years off from school and lived in the real world, that was far more enlightening than sitting in a classroom all day.

This.

A 4 year degree from virtually anywhere today is meaningless. There are some exceptions to this such as engineering where you can actually use a 4 year degree but by an large without graduate studies most 4 year grads are unemployable without further education.

The only reason this reality has not hit campuses and the "culture" is that the government continues to subsidize a multitude of creative financing options for college education.

By and large the 4 year degree is no longer worth even a fraction of what it costs today. That said it' still a necessary evil. The key is to not pay $300K for a private university degree in underwater basketweaving when you are just as eligible to be accepted into a good graduate program coming from the local state or community institution.