In my parent’s generation, it was not uncommon for people to quit school to go to work and a high school education was worth far more than it is today. After WW2, a college education became a ticket to the middle class, helped along by the GI Bill. My Mom & Dad were the first in their families to get a college education and it served them both very well - all of us Boomer kids did the same. Everyone got a healthy dose of hard-core subjects like English, Math, Science. If you couldn’t pass College Algebra, you could forget about getting a degree.
Nowadays, my grandchildren major in stuff like “communications” (talking) and other useless junk which gets them a job as a telemarketer working in a boiler room with their peers. The Asian kids do well because they have a good work ethic and are not afraid to tackle the difficult subjects like Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology & Computer Science, but any kid with ambition can do as well.
If I was just starting out again, I would not go to college: I would go to trade school like DeVry, pick up some basic computer skills and learn some plumbing, electrical, and welding skills and go right to work. Nowadays, chances are good you will not end up with the same kind of job you started with - things change so rapidly - so you want to stay flexible.
An artist friend of mine once told me, “If you want to make a living as an artist, it’s also a good idea to pick up a few janitorial skills to tide you over until you make the big time!” Good advice!
One son has a BS in geology and is making a living as a musician. The other got a degree in communications and then tech school certification and is using all the skills he has acquired throughout life. There are a lot of ways to get educated.