It goes deeper than this - for years, we’ve been scammed by the myth that ‘a college degree is essential for every worker’, promulgated by the Higher ‘Education’ industry, and abetted by HR Managers that ‘require’ a college degree for every position above Floor Sweeper...
I agree with you (and I’m a professor). The plaintiff would have been better served by working in a store, maybe becoming assistant manager (not difficult if you show up everyday and show some interest). I have relatives in retail management. Even in this economy, people can be promoted up to assistant.
Also, some community colleges offer fashion merchandising or retail management degrees. She would have more use from a cheap 2 yr degree than that useless $75,000 piece of paper she paid for. Also, if she ever wanted to go to a regular college or grad school, few if any of her credits will be accepted. She might have to start all over.