[Modernman]

Could be a lot of things, but I don't see a causal relationship, from what I've seen of college.

So what accounts for the fact that someone with a college degree, on average, makes about $1 million more (or something like that) over a lifetime than someone who only has a high school degree?

[baystaterebel]

"So what accounts for the fact that someone with a college degree, on average, makes about $1 million more (or something like that) over a lifetime than someone who only has a high school degree?"

The fact that many of the higher paying jobs have a degree of some sort as a requirement for entry. Now, is that degree really necessary? That is the question. I work within a company that require college degrees for various jobs that in reality would be better suited for people who have been in the field working instead of sitting in a classroom for four years.

As has been mentioned above, other then specialized sciences and a few others, what real skills are learned in college that can not be learned in life? Please don't tell me "learning to think". I have met as many educated idiots as I have uneducated.

[Aquinasfan]

So what accounts for the fact that someone with a college degree, on average, makes about $1 million more (or something like that) over a lifetime than someone who only has a high school degree?

Government employment which requires certification. Employment in quasi-governmental organizations, like contractors doing work for the government and non-profits. Union-driven certification in professions such as teaching. Corporate fear of litigation regarding hiring practices. A pseudo-standard of minimum competency established by bureaucratic private companies. That's all I can think of at the moment.