A couple of generations ago being a university man (or woman) carried status in society or the market place. A degree was a lifetime free pass to the middle class. All that is gone now. The university up the road has 2 females to every 1 male students. Definitely a holding tank for post-adolescents. Thoughtful parents might hesitate at paying the hundred thousand or more for a degree in Women's Studies or Social Work. The more intelligent parents I know, (mostly Asian), are sending their sons to high quality technical and vocational schools.
"The more intelligent parents I know, (mostly Asian), are sending their sons to high quality technical and vocational schools."
So why don't we make technical schools equal is status to colleges?
For instance, most major corporations require a college degree for their IT hires, when what is really needed are techinical skills (and hence, technical schools!).
When was the last time you heard a Jewish mother joke that had a punchline "My son/daughter graduated as an electrician" instead of ohh-ing and ahh-ing over the law school grad?
What you said, every last word. The university degree basically means nothing more than what it used to mean to graduate high school.
Many states allow dual enrollment of high school students in community colleges (sometimes free tuition). This works especially well for homeschooled students, but any kid could accomplish two years of college at no or a tiny price, while still at home.
Then, since they're already ahead of the game, they could finish up by going to college (or taking online courses) part-time while working at something that actually helps prepare them for adulthood.