If you think about it, their opinion matters the most about college because those are the people you want to one day impress enough with your training to hire you.
Don't ask the college advisors what's good -- they have to sell their product - the college they work for. And even if the college advisor is honest and looking out for the student's best interests, he may have little perspective about your career field in the real world outside of his academic bubble.
Xlnt points.
“IMHO, kids should pick a career before picking college. Talk to people already in that career, and ask them if college training is helpful and, if so, what degrees from what colleges are good.”
Good idea. Also, many employers would prefer to hire someone from a small southern or mid-west college that has a proven record of producing graduates knowledgeable in a certain field rather than someone with a degree from a well-known university.