Take it from a criminal justice major who ended up going into student loan debt because I felt like I just downright “needed” to get it from a university. NOTE, I’m not saying don’t go to college, I’m saying unless you are majoring in one of the fields I named, you’d be better off enrolling at a JUCO or Community College. Now if you have a scholarship then that’s a different story. I was originally in a community college but ended up transferring because that school only offered associate degrees (my other excuse for leaving lol). College as a whole is way too fucking expensive to begin with but I feel as though it would be more worth it if you were in the majors I mentioned. I do realize that there are many graduates who have majored in other fields and feel content and that’s great.
I agree with you to a certain point.
When somebody finishes high-school and becomes an adult, they should develop a useful skill that they can turn into a career. This might be going to college for STEM, it might be a trade-school, or it might be an apprenticeship as a skilled tradesman. I wouldn’t discount all liberal arts degrees either; a degree in graphic design can be well worth the time.
The important thing is that people entering the workforce can say “I’m a doctor,” “I’m a plumber,” “I’m an auto mechanic,” “I’m a software developer,” etc. Be able to say “I do something.”
Going to college for an undergraduate degree in art history? That’s something you should do after you’re already established in your career and you feel like you’d like to learn something more. Going to school to learn to be a chef, paint cars, build furniture, etc, they might not be STEM or law degrees, but they’re useful.
I guess in summary, kids should go to school to learn a useful skill. Adults should go to school for whatever they want.