I call it ‘the myth of American Education’. It might make a good book title!
In some aspects the generic “college degree vs. high school” comparison might yield questions about the real value of a college degree.
Where this falls apart in my opinion is in the engineering and science related areas. As an engineer, I managed a group of degreed engineers, largely graduate, some PhDs and a few new BS engineers. Also had a few HS graduate technicians, etc. There is a reason why the engineers got paid more than the technicians with 20 or more years experience. In effect, the technicians wouldn’t have had a job were it not for the engineers who were addressing real problems customers were willing to pay for.
Whenever I see salary categories of Social workers compared against engineers I just have to laugh and wonder why the comparison? Equality for all, no understanding of actual hard work and ability to actually learn hard new things.
I had lunch yesterday with a friend. She's in her 90's and we talked about her life. She told me with some amazement, "I didn't go to college and I'm richer than all my nieces and nephews who did".
And, in fact she is. The pastime among all those nieces and nephews is trying to get Aunties millions.
The college/resort industry is in the end stage of a government funded bubble, and they are starting to get shrill.