$422,320 for a College Degree? With Tuition Skyrocketing, It is Time to Rethink Higher Education

[fujiyama]

11. Agree completely

Junior colleges, community colleges, and technical/vocational schools are something many dismiss outright, but they can develop applicable and useful skills leading to employment.

While the cost of four year degrees is obscene (and is not improving education outcomes or the development of useful skills for employment), there are much less expensive alternatives to a four year bachelor's degree. Many are forced into a four year university but have little motivation or inclination (and for many there is little motivation or inclination to do anything other than get shitfaced and try to get laid).

Higher education as a whole should be revamped. We are feeding people through universities and I simply do not understand how this investment pans out for many. Why should an employer hire Joe who has a four year degree (much of which is useless filler and irrelevant) but no experience, vs. Bob who has a two year degree in a field relevant to the industry and several years of work experience?

What I want to see is audits and independent boards that actually start looking at colleges and universities like any other investment. I don't understand how it benefits anyone to have debt the size of a second mortgage...And where is the money being spent? President's mansions? Coach's salaries? Athletic programs? And books are insane as well. We have what amounts to a cartel with Houghton Mifflin, Willey, and a few others dominating and setting prices. But of course, we know like with defense contractors, and health care, there's no accountability whatsoever.

/rant off