Add to this, the ability to take out loan after loan for a degree in Underwater Basket Weaving.
Kids are leaving college with loans in the 6-figures to get a Masters in Social Work. To get a job that pays what? $30-40,000 a year to start, so they can help people. And all they do is help do nothing more than providing paperwork for Section 8, WIC, SNAP, etc. Who needs a Masters degree for that?
Same can be said about so many degrees offered these days.
That is not the norm though. Kids are still getting loans for business and accounting degrees. There were useless majors 35 years ago.
The photo of the NYC Occupiers that blew me away was a guy who had a sign complaining that he owed "$100,000 for a Masters degree in (drumroll) PUPPETRY" and couldn't find a job.
I thought it was a spoof but searched and found one university that offered a Masters in that severely limited field:
Puppetry Master's Degree Programs. Individuals who are interested in puppetry as well as drama, the performing arts, and theater may want to consider earning a master's degree in puppetry or taking puppetry coursework while earning a related master's degree. These degree programs prepare students for careers as professional puppeteers in various on-stage or filmed productions.
I remember Rush, God rest his soul!!!, saying that they should make every college student sign a paper about what their degree will pay out of college. Signing it would cut the victimhood crap when they whine about their loans vs. salary. It’s an easy fix, but too hard to require I guess!!