The debate over education in THIS industry is ludicrous. there is no debate. Unless you have very good FAMILY connections, the odds are very high that the benefits of a a degree will far outweigh the costs. But it's not like medicine, you can if you so choose become a pylut and get a job without a degree, but there is a high risk that your career progression will be seriously hampered. The job doesn't require a degree, but the career does.

The debate of the VALUE of higher education in this country is actually quite valid. Many folks (including almost all of society's leaders) consider higher education to be of great value. Not everyone needs it, but SOME of us need to have the perspectives of history and critical thinking skills to advance society, or at least avoid regression into a feudal society or worse. The issue today isn't so much the value, it's the cost and the determination of who needs or will benefit from education.

Opportunity for higher education increased dramatically last century, but I think it's gone a little too far. We're sending people to college to drink beer and play video games (often at public expense) who should probably be learning a trade and getting their butts out to the job site long before they graduate on the seven year program. The Europeans are a little bit more practical...they get you on the right track for you much sooner.

The cost of higher education is getting ridiculous, and that's the fault of the education system's leaders and their government enablers. That's a separate issue.