The real problem with college education in the US is that the majority of the students don't start to plan their career until after college is over. Far too many believe the value is in the piece of paper, so that's all they care about, which turns out to be a terrible allocation of your resources.
Obtaining a job is a signalling game. Having a degree is one signal you can provide to employers, but there are also many other equilibria. In other words, there are many ways to signal a good match to an employer.
A person's "college years" need to not only be treated as a time to figure out what you want to do with your life, but perhaps more importantly, what you DON'T want to do with your life. The notion of leaving high school then going to college and finishing in 4 years as being the "right way to do it" lacks some key pieces of relevancy. Figuring out what you don't want to do doesn't just teach you what you don't want to do, but it also teaches you wisdom; wisdom that can only be gained by real world experience.
Obtaining a job is a signalling game. Having a degree is one signal you can provide to employers, but there are also many other equilibria. In other words, there are many ways to signal a good match to an employer.
A person's "college years" need to not only be treated as a time to figure out what you want to do with your life, but perhaps more importantly, what you DON'T want to do with your life. The notion of leaving high school then going to college and finishing in 4 years as being the "right way to do it" lacks some key pieces of relevancy. Figuring out what you don't want to do doesn't just teach you what you don't want to do, but it also teaches you wisdom; wisdom that can only be gained by real world experience.