Just my 02. To lenders, businesses, etc. a college degree means you stuck it out and finished.

College is a lot more expensive now than it used to be too

Well it’s not quite that simple. If you aren’t in a technical or professional field then I see no need in a degree- I’d wager the vast majority of them don’t get used for their intended purpose.

Wife went back to get her degree when she was 35 she graduated with a BSN RN. My son went and graduated with a bachelor's. My loans on both were right around 10k each. First 2 years community college, 2nd kid lives at home, 3rd student holds a full or part time job preferably in the field of his major and that money he makes goes to his college bills, 3rd there are scholarships all over and only require writing a paper. During summer and fall they both were awarded an average of multiple scholarship adding up in 5k range, 1 out of 10 papers would be accepted on average, 4 they would go to local state college within 1 hour from the house.

My son worked his first year living at home, paid off his debt in 2 months, saved 55k, put it down on a property/home loan. He is getting married to a young lady who also has a great job and no debt. They will be fine make over 100k, with no auto loans (used cars), no credit card bills and no college debt. Both parents will pay for a small wedding and donating 30k that would of been spent feeding a bunch of guest for a day to a retirement fund so they can start investing early.

So recap, don't let them choose college, mostly it will be overpriced, party filled and the come home little communist. Make them work in the field of their major. Experience and less time to party. Community college is cheap and accredited. Living at home is cheaper then renting them a place and you can keep an eye on them. Summer winter break they work and try for scholarships, not party. We are preparing them for real life, not liberal puke existence of government assistance, drug use and victimhood mentality. Finally teach them about debt how it is modern day slavery and to avoid it at all cost. Teach them about investing early.

It's also why it took me 8 years to graduate instead of the usual 4. I was working full time and taking morning/evening classes. But I always understood the long game. It has rewarded me very well and will get me to retirement in two more years with a nice retirement income.

Yes,just like any other loan!

I paid for my own college.
Spent four years, sailing around the world.
You take out a loan.. You pay it back..

The ideology that college is a must has ruined a segment of American society

It did have an effect on education for sure. Seems like one of the Bush's pushed that idealogy. Trades are coming back, and that's a good thing. My high school son and I had a conversation. We talked about welding and truck driving. I'm hoping that's what he does. On the other hand, I have a daughter with a masters in ethnomusicology. She and her husband run an arts school in Hungary. Out of those scenarios, my son has the potential to make the most money. But it's not just about that. My daughter, son in law and granddaughter are all musicians. My granddaughter is taking cello lessons from some orchestra dude in Hungary. She's a sophomore. Somehow, my daughter's family figured out how to make money with music degrees. And that's what they love to do. Plus they do alot of missionary work. There's no one size fits all. As far as the cost for my daughter's college. She went out of state to ORU in Oklahoma. Her scholarships made it the same cost had she gone to school in Texas. I went to school in Texas and went on the old GI bill.