That is true. I would expect people who are motivated to learn and apply new information to at least WANT to go to college, even if they can’t afford it or other circumstances prevent them from going.
Sadly, though, more and more high school grads are going to college nowadays simply because it’s “expected” and mommy and daddy are paying for it, not because they feel any genuine motivation to continue learning and bettering themselves. These are the people who do most of their “studies” in the bars and frathouse bedrooms...it is they who make some people cynical of the value of a college education in today’s world.
There's always been some of that, perhaps more now. You're right about the cynicism it creates, and rightly so.