That was true when getting admitted to a college meant something but now with everybody going to college and the people who can't handle STEM getting a BA the value of a liberal arts degree has been severly diminished. Also, with the cost of tuition skyrocketing is it worth going six figures into debt for a BA degree.
“Also, with the cost of tuition skyrocketing is it worth going six figures into debt for a BA degree.’
I personally believe a BA has value but not six figures. Six figures today represents the cost of a private school education. There are other alternatives. If I were 18 today, was funding my education, and wanted a degree I’d probably go to the local community college for a 2 year associate degree while working as many hours as I could. I’d then go to a state university for my last two years. Of course I’d also pursue every scholarship program I could identify. Another option would be ROTC.
When my daughter applied to college in the early 2000’s the cost of 4 years at a state school was about $50,000 including room and board. Private school was 2-3 times that depending on the “prestige” of the school. Thanks to her good grades and extracurricular activities in high school she actually ended up with a nice scholarship package from an “up and coming” private school with her net cost at $10,000 per year. She worked all four years while she was in school so with our assistance, her income, and her savings she exited college debt free. She then went to graduate school (state university). She paid for grad school by working and taking out loans. Now she is working two jobs and will have her graduate education paid off less than 3 years after graduating.
Quite frankly I have no sympathy for the Harvard, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, or Columbia graduate with a fresh liberal arts BA and $200,000 in debt. Those students and their parents have exercised poor judgment. I’ve seen first hand it is possible to go to college and not be in debt for life upon graduation. The kids who work their way through a state school, or less prestigious private school, appreciate the value of their education and are much more prepared to compete in the world than the students taking on six figure debt and using their extra time in college to play or participate in Occupy Wall Street.
Look at our president for example. He was given private school undergraduate and graduate school educations at very expensive private institutions. He shows no indication he appreciates those educations or anything else about this country.